The 41st edition of the MAJECA – JAMECA Joint Conference was held on 1st August 2024 at Hilton Kuala Lumpur.
This edition of the Joint Conference, hosted by MAJECA and co-hosted by Japan-Malaysia Economic Association (JAMECA) was themed ‘Empowering Innovation, Driving Co-Creation’. The 41st Joint Conference programme was formulated to stimulate discussions on how the technological innovations have given birth to new sectors / areas of business that have responded to the tech & geopolitical challenges, yet remaining efficient, green, sustainable and profitable activities.
This conference saw the attendance of over 180 participants. The delegation from JAMECA comprised of Chief Executives, Managing Directors and Corporate Leaders of Japanese corporations from Japan, supported by their respective offices in Malaysia and across ASEAN was led by its President, Mr Tsuyoshi Nagano who is also the Chairman of Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc. The delegation from MAJECA was led by its President, Tan Sri Azman Hashim, who is also Emeritus Chairman of AmBank Group. The MAJECA delegation comprised of Chief Executives, Managing Directors and Corporate Leaders of Malaysian companies including a strong representation from the Japan Graduates’ Association of Malaysia (JAGAM) led by Mr Goh Peng Ooi, Honorary Patron of JAGAM & Hon. Treasurer of MAJECA.
The Joint Conference was graced by:
- H.E. Katsuhiko Takahashi, Ambassador of Japan to Malaysia,
- YB Senator Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, Minister of Finance II, and
- Datuk Hanafi Sakri, Deputy Secretary General (Industry), Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) Malaysia.
The Programme of the 41st MAJECA-JAMECA Joint Conference was as follows:
Opening Ceremony
The Joint Conference began with Opening Remarks from the respective Presidents of MAJECA and JAMECA.
Tan Sri Azman Hashim
President of Malaysia-Japan Economic Association (MAJECA) and
Chairman of the 41st MAJECA Joint Conference delivered his opening remarks.
Mr Tsuyoshi Nagano
President of Japan-Malaysia Economic Association (JAMECA) and
Co-Chairman of the 41st MAJECA Joint Conference delivered his opening remarks.
Following on, the Messages from the Prime Minister of Japan and Malaysia were read.
H.E. Katsuhiko Takahashi
Ambassador of Japan to Malaysia delivered his greetings to participants of the Joint Conference and read the congratulatory message by H.E. Kishida Fumio, the Prime Minister of Japan.
Datuk Hanafi Sakri
Deputy Secretary General (Industry), Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) Malaysia read the congratulatory message by YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia.
A group photo of the Opening Ceremony VIPs (from left to right):
Mr Kazuo Nishitani, Secretary-General, JAMECA, Mr Kuniharu Nakamura, Vice-President, JAMECA, H.E. Katsuhiko Takahashi, Ambassador of Japan to Malaysia, Mr Tsuyoshi Nagano, President, JAMECA, Tan Sri Azman Hashim, President, MAJECA, Datuk Hanafi Sakri, Deputy Secretary General (Industry), Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) Malaysia, Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal, Vice-President, MAJECA, and Mr Goh Peng Ooi, Hon. Treasurer of MAJECA & Honorary Patron, JAGAM
Plenary Session 1
ASEAN-Japan Relations 50 Years On: Trends & Directions for Malaysia-Japan Relations
Session Moderator: Tan Sri Rastam Mohd Isa
Chairman, FGV Holdings Berhad, Executive Committee Member of MAJECA, former Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia & former Chairman of Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia
(from left-to-right) Tan Sri Michael Yeoh, President, KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific & Executive Committee Member of MAJECA, Mr Koichi Takano, Managing Director, Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) Kuala Lumpur, Tan Sri Rastam Mohd Isa, Session Moderator, Tan Sri Yong Poh Kon, Chairman, Royal Selangor International Sdn Bhd and Mr Takero Sawamura, President, Japanese Chamber of Trade & Industry, Malaysia (JACTIM).
Plenary Session 2
Datuk Haji (Datu) Rosmadi Datu Sulai
Chief Coordinating Officer, Secretariat of Sabah Maju Jaya, Sabah State Government delivered a presentation titled “Sabah Blue Economy”.
Dr Firdausi Suffian
Chief Executive Officer, Invest Sabah Berhad delivered a presentation titled
“Navigating Investment Opportunity in Sabah for Robust Growth”.
Address by Minister of Finance II
Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal
Vice-President, MAJECA welcomed and introduced the Minister of Finance II.
YB Senator Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan
Minister of Finance II delivered his Address to participants of the 41st MAJECA-JAMECA Joint Conference.
A group photo of the MAJECA Executive Committee Members with the Minister of Finance II
(from left-to-right)
Mr Sivavenayakam Velayutham, Mr Yeonhang Chuah, Tan Sri Michael Yeoh, Dato’ Md Taib Abdul Hamid, Vice-President, Tan Sri Azman Hashim, President, YB Senator Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, Minister of Finance II, Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal, Vice-President, Tan Sri Rastam Mohd Isa, Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Lodin bin Wok Kamaruddin, Vice-President, Mr Goh Peng Ooi, Hon. Treasurer, Datuk Jason Tai Hee, Vice-President, and Mr Isrami Ismail.
(from left-to-right) Mr Kazuo Nishitani, Secretary General, JAMECA, H.E. Katsuhiko Takahashi, Ambassador of Japan to Malaysia, Mr Tsuyoshi Nagano, President, JAMECA, YB Senator Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, Minister of Finance II, Mr Kuniharu Nakamura, Vice-President, JAMECA.
Luncheon Hosted by Silverlake Axis Sdn Bhd
VVIP Table (from left, clockwise)
Tan Sri Rastam Mohd Isa, Chairman, FGV Holdings Berhad & Executive Committee Member of MAJECA, Mr Goh Peng Ooi, Group Executive Chairman, Silverlake Axis Group, Hon. Treasurer, MAJECA & Honorary Patron, JAGAM, H.E. Katsuhiko Takahashi, Ambassador of Japan to Malaysia, Mr Tsuyoshi Nagano, President, JAMECA, YB Senator Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, Minister of Finance II, Tan Sri Azman Hashim, President, MAJECA, Mr Kuniharu Nakamura, Vice-President, JAMECA, Datuk Haji (Datu) Rosmadi Datu Sulai,Chief Coordinating Officer, Secretariat of Sabah Maju Jaya, Sabah State Government, Datuk Jason Tai Hee, Vice-President, MAJECA and Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal, Vice-President, MAJECA.
Special Session
Session Moderator: Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal, Vice-President, MAJECA
(from left-to-right) Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal, Session Moderator, Mr Goh Peng Ooi, Honorary Patron of the Japan Graduates’ Association of Malaysia & Hon. Treasurer of MAJECA, Ir Chin Kar Keong, Managing Director, Perunding Atur Trafik Sdn Bhd and Mr Desmond Seok, Managing Director, Green Planet Midori Sdn Bhd.
Plenary Session 3
Enhancing Entrepreneur Success through Co-Creation
Session Moderator: Mdm Shafinaz Salim, Head, Technology Hub Development Division, Cyberview Sdn Bhd
(from left-to-right) Mdm Shafinaz Salim, Session Moderator, Mr Aiemaan Mohd Noor, Director, Country Manager, NEOREKA Asia Sdn Bhd, Mr Goh Peng Ooi, Group Executive Chairman, Silverlake Axis Group, Mr Masaaki Hamada, Country Director, Asuene APAC Pte. Ltd., Ms Fumiko Inada, Co-Founder & CEO, Bee Informatica
Plenary Session 4
Preparedness for a Resilient and Sustainable Supply Chain
Session Moderator: Mr Raja Hamzah Abidin Raja Nong Chik, Non-Executive Director, Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad, Founding Partner, RHL Ventures Sdn Bhd & Executive Committee Member of MAJECA
(from left-to-right) Mr Raja Hamzah, Session Moderator, Ir Ts Dr Gideon Tan Xiang Yee, Head of Group Transformation Division, FGV Holdings Berhad, Mr Dennis Harun Wong, Head of Strategy & Marketing, SEDC Energy, Mr Nao Nitta, Executive Officer Head of Energy Company, Euglena Co., Ltd and Mr Takato Senoo, Chief Operating Officer, Green Carbon Inc.
Closing Ceremony
Tan Sri Azman Hashim
President, MAJECA and Chairman of the 41st MAJECA Joint Conference delivered the Closing Remarks.
Mr Kuniharu Nakamura
Vice-President, JAMECA delivered the Closing Remarks and announced the 42nd JAMECA-MAJECA Joint Conference in Japan in 2025.
Exchange of Gifts
- Mr Tsuyoshi Nagano (left), President of JAMECA exchanging gifts with
Tan Sri Azman Hashim (right), President of MAJECA.
- Mr Kuniharu Nakamura (left), Vice-President of JAMECA exchanging gifts with
Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal (right), Vice-President of MAJECA.
(from left-to-right) Mr Kazuo Nishitani, Secretary General, JAMECA, Mr Kuniharu Nakamura, Vice-President, Mr Tsuyoshi Nagano, President, JAMECA, Tan Sri Azman Hashim, President, MAJECA and Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal, Vice-President, MAJECA.
Dinner
Tan Sri Azman Hashim
President, MAJECA delivered the Welcome Remarks for the Dinner and hosted the entertainment.
Mr Tsuyoshi Nagano
President, JAMECA delivered the Thank You Speech at the end of the Dinner.
Photo Gallery
VIP Holding Room with the Minister of Finance II (from left-to-right)
Mr Kuniharu Nakamura, Vice-President, JAMECA, Tan Sri Azman Hashim, President, MAJECA, Mr Tsuyoshi Nagano, President, JAMECA, YB Senator Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, Minister of Finance II, H.E. Katsuhiko Takahashi, Ambassador of Japan to Malaysia and Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal, Vice-President, MAJECA.
VIP Holding Room (from left-to-right)
MAJECA Executive Committee Members: Tan Sri Michael Yeoh, Mr Yeonhang Chuah & Tan Sri Rastam Mohd Isa, Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal, Vice-President, MAJECA, Mr Kuniharu Nakamura, Vice-President, JAMECA, Tan Sri Azman Hashim, President, MAJECA, Datuk Hanafi Sakri, Deputy Secretary General (Industry), Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) Malaysia, Mr Tsuyoshi Nagano, President, JAMECA, H.E. Katsuhiko Takahashi, Ambassador of Japan to Malaysia, Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Lodin bin Wok Kamaruddin, Vice-President, Mr Goh Peng Ooi, Hon. Treasurer and Dato’ Md Taib Abdul Hamid, Vice-President.
The takeaways from the 41st MAJECA – JAMECA Joint Conference include:
• highlighting exciting developments & insights into the green, blue, hydrogen and digital economies. These frontiers present interesting opportunities across its respective value chains. Opportunities for Malaysia and Japan to co-create and innovate in this space can move our bilateral business relations to a higher level,
• highlighting younger entrepreneurs & businesses in new industry areas & the development & progress of the startup ecosystem, and the roles these entrepreneurs play in driving innovation and co-creation, alongside their transformative solutions that can balance the Environmental, Social and Governance goals for the good of nature, citizens and businesses, and
• acknowledged the Malaysian alumni who have graduated from Japanese tertiary institutions, both in the private sector as well as in the Government sector. This is an outstanding outcome of the Look East Policy of our Malaysian Government. To date there are alumni graduates who have gone on to forge valuable business ties in and with Japan. MAJECA looks to them to continue to form more bridges for Malaysia – Japan social, cultural and business ties to flourish, widen & deepen going forward.
The 41st edition of the MAJECA – JAMECA Joint Conference was made possible through the extensive efforts and cooperation from our co-host, Japan – Malaysia Economic Association (JAMECA), the role-players, participants and sponsors namely:
- Silverlake Axis Sdn Bhd
- FGV Holdings Bhd
- the AmBank Group
- Sabah Maju Jaya Secretariat, Chief Minister Department
- Cyberview Sdn Bhd
- Pan Sarawak Holdings Bhd
- YTL Corporation Bhd
- Dato’ Md Taib Abdul Hamid
- IJM Corporation Bhd
- Berjaya Corporation Bhd
- Asuene APAC Co., Ltd.
- Sterling Equity Sdn Bhd
Silverlake Axis Sdn Bhd
Silverlake Axis creates technologies to enable the Digital Economy. What sets us apart is the foundation for our computing principles, which are grounded on mathematical models. Through the years, Silverlake Axis has evolved using mathematics to refine, expand and invent technologies, broadening into new industries and markets at the same time.
Founded in 1989, Silverlake Axis has built an impeccable track record of successful core banking implementations. After years of successes across the region, Silverlake Axis was listed on Singapore’s Stock Exchange (SGX) SESDAQ in 2003 and moved up to SGX Mainboard in 2011.
FGV Holdings Berhad
FGV Holdings Berhad (FGV) is a leading global agribusiness company based in Malaysia and is one of the largest producers of Crude Palm Oil (CPO) in the world. FGV’s operations span across 7 countries in Asia, Middle East, North America and Europe are focused on six main sectors namely Plantation, Oil and Fats, Sugar, Consumer Products, Logistics & Support and Integrated Farming.
As the Group’s core business, the Plantation Sector has an integrated palm value chain for upstream, processing and downstream activities. FGV also owns one of the largest vegetable oil tank & storage facilities in the world, and is a leading producer of refined sugar in Malaysia.
FGV embarked on aggressive integrated farming activities with business components of cash crops, paddy and rice, animal nutrition & protein, livestock and dairy farms. The Group is also a well-known FMCG player in the Malaysia with various consumer food product brands such as SAJI, ADELA GOLD, SERI PELANGI, GULA PRAI, LADANG’57 and BRIGHT COW.
AmBank Group
As one of Malaysia’s leading financial services groups, AmBank Group has 49 years of expertise supporting Malaysia’s economic development. With over 3 million customers, the Group offers comprehensive services on wholesale banking, business banking, retail banking, investment banking, Islamic banking, stock broking, futures broking, investment advisory, and asset management services. Additionally, the Group also covers unit trusts, real estate investment trusts, general insurance, life insurance, and family takaful.
Newspaper Articles
The 41st MAJECA – JAMECA Joint Conference has been covered in the following:
- Ringgit expected to strengthen further, driven by economic growth, govt initiatives, says Amir Hamzah, The Edge, https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/721295
- Effective Malaysia-Japan collab key to driving sustainable economic growth, says Anwar, The Borneo Post, https://www.theborneopost.com/2024/08/01/effective-malaysia-japan-collab-key-to-driving-sustainable-economic-growth-says-anwar/
- Ringgit dijangka terus kukuh, dipacu oleh pertumbuhan ekonomi, inisiatif kerajaan – Amir Hamzah, DagangNews.com, https://www.dagangnews.com/index.php/article/ringgit-dijangka-terus-kukuh-dipacu-oleh-pertumbuhan-ekonomi-inisiatif-kerajaan-amir-hamzah-39499
- 日マ経済協議会、首都で合同会議を開催, NNA Asia, https://www.nna.jp/news/2688801
MAJECA would like to record its utmost appreciation to all our partners who have made this event possible.
MAJECA 