The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), alongside co-organisers Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan (METI), Ministry of Investment and Trade and Industry of Malaysia (MITI), Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Embassy of Japan in Malaysia, Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), and various Supporting Partners including the Malaysia-Japan Economic Association (MAJECA), organised the Malaysia-Japan Fast Track Pitch Event 2025 on 5 February 2026 at JW Mariott Hotel Kuala Lumpur.

MAJECA was represented at this event by (pic below, from left-to-right) Mr Samuel Loh, Programme Executive, Mr Sivavenayakam Velayutham, EXCO Member, Mr Gary Tang, Hon. Secretary, and Ms Ng Su Fun, Executive Secretary.

Under the directive of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the Japan-ASEAN Fast Track Pitch Initiative is a strategic platform designed to accelerate collaboration between startups and large corporates across ASEAN and Japan.

As part of a four-country series, the Malaysian edition saw a total of six Japanese and Malaysian large corporates, namely, ADA Group, IHI Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsui Chemicals Group, Sunway iLabs and YTL Construction, involved in open innovation activities in ASEAN and Japan have gathered as Challenge Owners to present their business challenges in an open call for solutions, and receive proposals from startup companies across the region that could tackle the collaboration themes that they are focusing on.

Submissions were received from 111 startups, primarily from Japan and Malaysia, but also including Indonesia, Thailand, India amongst others, with 14 startups selected to present their proposals at the event.

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Greetings & Opening Remarks:

Video message from H.E. Ryosei AKAZAWA, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Japan.

Mr Daisuke Nihei, Minister, Embassy of Japan in Malaysia.

Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim bin Sikh Abdul Majid, Chief Executive Officer, Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA)

Mr Masuo KUREMURA, Special Advisor to the Minister of METI & Regional Head of Asia-Pacific Executive Director for Asia-Pacific, Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) Singapore