The 42nd edition of the JAMECA – MAJECA Joint Conference was held on 2 September 2025 at Tokyo International Forum, Japan.

This edition of the Joint Conference, hosted by the Japan – Malaysia Economic Association (JAMECA) was themed ‘Strengthening Malaysia-Japan Economic Relations amidst Global and Regional Conflicts and Trade-Tariff Disputes’.

This conference saw the attendance of over 107 participants from Malaysia and Japan representing members of JAMECA and MAJECA, including the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), the Japan External Trade Organisations (JETRO) alongside chambers of commerce, business associations, thinktanks, alumni associations and the business communities from both countries.

The Joint Conference was graced by Ms Kyoko Hokugo, Deputy-Director General, South Asia and Oceania Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan and H.E. Dato’ Shahril Effendi Abd Ghany, Ambassador of Malaysia to Japan.

JAMECA 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 Vice-President, Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal.

Opening Ceremony
The Joint Conference began with Opening Remarks from the respective Presidents of JAMECA and MAJECA.

Mr. Tsuyoshi Nagano, President of Japan-Malaysia Economic Association (JAMECA) and the Chairman of the 42nd JAMECA-MAJECA Joint Conference delivered his opening remarks.

Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal, Vice-President of Malaysia-Japan Economic Association (MAJECA), deputising for Tan Sri Azman Hashim, President of MAJECA, delivered his opening remarks.

Following on, the congratulatory messages by the Prime Minister of Japan and Prime Minister of Malaysia were read.

Ms Kyoko Hokugo, Deputy-Director General, South Asia and Oceania Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan read the congratulatory message by H.E. Shigeru Ishiba, the Prime Minister of Japan.

H.E. Dato’ Shahril Effendi bin Abd Ghany, Ambassador of Malaysia to Japan delivered his greetings to participants of the Joint Conference and 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 Masayuki Hyodo, Vice President, JAMECA, Ms Kyoko Hokugo, Deputy-Director General, South Asia and Oceania Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan, Mr Tsuyoshi Nagano, President, JAMECA, Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal, Vice-President, MAJECA, H.E. Dato’ Shahril Effendi bin Abd Ghany, Ambassador of Malaysia to Japan and Mr Gary Tang, Hon. Secretary, MAJECA.

Plenary Session 1
Measures taken and to be taken to protect economic and business growth, and mitigate the adverse impact in bilateral relations between Japan-Malaysia and the ASEAN region

(from left-to-right) Session Moderator, Tan Sri Dr Michael Yeoh, Senior Executive Committee Member, MAJECA, Mr Hiromitsu Narukama, President, The Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Malaysia (JACTIM), Mr Koichi Takano, Managing Director, JETRO Kuala Lumpur, Mr Zuaziezie Zulkelfi, Trade Commissioner & Director, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) Tokyo, and Mr Izran Abdullah, Director, Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) Tokyo.

Plenary Session 2
Agriculturual Innovation

(from left-to-right) Session Moderator, Dr Ayaka Uke, Researcher, Japan International Research Center for Agriculture Sciences (JIRACAS), Mr Kota Kandori, Board Director, Terra Drone Corporation, Mr Hokuto Ishihara, Executive Director, MYFARM Inc. and Dato’ Dr Yeo Tiong Chia, Chief Executive Officer, Sarawak Biodiversity Centre.

Plenary Session 3
Artificial Intelligence

(from left-to-right) Session Moderator, Mr Goh Peng Ooi, Hon. Treasurer, MAJECA & Chairman, AI Malaysia (AIM), Mr Hiroshi Ishikawa, Special Advisor to the President of ERIA (Economic Institute for ASEAN and East Asia) on Digital Innovation, Prof Ir Ts Dr Hum Yan Chai, Associate Professor, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Department of Mechatronics and BioMedical Engineering, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Mr Tan Soo Eng, Senior Solutions Director, Silverlake Group, Mr Shudai Komoriya, Founder and CEO, BAKUTAN Inc. & Global Relations, Matsuo Lab, University of Tokyo, Mr Masahiro Morimoto, President & Representative Director, FRONTEO, Inc., and Mr Akihiko Iketani, Senior Director, NEC Corporation.

Closing Ceremony
The Closing Ceremony of the Joint Conference saw Closing Remarks delivered by the leadership of MAJECA and JAMECA.

Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal, Vice-President of MAJECA delivered his closing remarks and announced that MAJECA would host the 43rd edition of the Joint Conference in Malaysia in 2026.

Mr Masayuki Hyodo, Vice President, JAMECA delivered his closing remarks.

Exchange of Gifts:

(from left-to-right) Mr Tsuyoshi Nagano, President, JAMECA, Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal, Vice-President, MAJECA, Mr Gary Tang, Hon. Secretary, MAJECA and Mr Masayuki Hyodo, Vice-President, JAMECA.

The Joint Conference then adjourned to a Dinner hosted by JAMECA.

Mr Tsuyoshi Nagano, President, JAMECA delivered the welcome remarks.

Mr Masayuki Hyodo, Vice President, JAMECA delivered the toast.

Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal, Vice-President, MAJECA delivered the closing remarks.

Takeaways of the 42nd JAMECA-MAJECA Joint Conference include:

1. Opportunities for Japanese partnership with Malaysia include: biomass and renewable energy, high-value manufacturing and semiconductors, ICT and fintech, digital & creative content, halal products and services, agriculture & food, wood, iron & steel, robotics, chemicals and advanced materials, batteries, green hydrogen, healthcare & medtech, eldercare, assisted living, new renewable energy sources, bioscience, advanced intelligent systems, additive manufacturing, deeptech, digital & green transformation, decarbonisation.
2. The agricultural sector can stand to benefit from a comprehensive and circular economy approach where every by-product / side product / residue can be used for energy, materials and to improve soil health. E.g., nutraceuticals, superfoods, cosmetics, fuel etc.
3. Calls for co-developed AI infrastructure aligned on transparency, safety and fairness, to collectively build / aggregate a federated model. Collaboration amongst AI ecosystems to unify and harmonise disconnected, discrete, targeted AI solutions, with privacy preservation and security at centre. The need for collaboration built on a foundation of trust and security.
4. The realisation of these partnerships and progressive developments will be driven by well-placed, correctly trained / up-/re- skilled workforce. Digital transformation will need business architect, designer, data scientist, software engineer, cyber security.

Photo Gallery

MAJECA thanks Mr Goh Peng Ooi &
Silverlake Axis for its sponsorship.