The New Japan-Malaysia Industrial Cooperation Seminar was organised by the Embassy of Japan in Malaysia, co-organised with Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) Kuala Lumpur, and in cooperation with Malaysia-Japan Economic Association (MAJECA), Japan-Malaysia Economic Association (JAMECA) and Japanese Chamber of Trade and Industry, Malaysia (JACTIM) on 31 March 2026 at EQ Hotel Kuala Lumpur.
The Seminar was graced by YB Tuan Sim Tze Tzin, Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), YM Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Senior Political Advisor to the Prime Minister of Malaysia and Chairman of Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), Datuk Hanafi Sakri, Deputy Secretary-General (Industry), Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), and Mr KOMIYAMA Yasuji, Director-General for Trade Policy and Economic Cooperation, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Japan, and saw the participation of over 200 members of Government, industry, business, academia and media, from both Malaysia and Japan.
Following Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025 and the successful convening of the 3rd Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Leaders Meeting, and the 28th ASEAN Japan Summit in 2025, attended by Japan’s Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae, Malaysia and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral and regional cooperation, particularly in advancing Japan-led initiatives across ASEAN and enhancing economic security.
The Summit Meeting between Malaysia’s Prime Minister, YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Japan’s Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae, had both leaders emphasize the importance of deepening economic collaboration.
The New Japan-Malaysia Industrial Cooperation Seminar was organised with the aim to highlight key priority areas identified by the Council for Japan’s Growth Strategy under Prime Minister Takaichi’s administration, and to further strengthen industrial cooperation & investment– between Malaysia and Japan.
The key priority areas encompass 17 strategic fields, and ranges from supply chain resilience, AI and semiconductors to natural resources, energy security and materials.
The Seminar featured three Plenary Sessions, namely:
- Economic Security and Supply Chain,
- Resource and Energy Security / Green Transformation (GX),
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Semiconductor.
The discussions touched on deepening targeted bilateral collaboration in areas such as: decarbonisation (Carbon Capture and Storage), energy (hydroelectricity, nuclear, ammonia, LNG), rare earth, AI, semiconductors, human resource development, food security, cybersecurity, Anime, Comic & Game (ACG), healthcare, disaster management amongst many others.
Opening
H.E. SHIKATA Noriyuki, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Malaysia delivered the Opening Remarks.
YB Tuan Sim Tze Tzin, Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry delivered his remarks.
YM Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister of Malaysia and Chairman of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) delivered his remarks.
Mr KOMIYAMA Yasuji, Director-General for Trade Policy and Economic Cooperation, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Japan delivered his remarks.
Tan Sri Azman Hashim, President of the Malaysia-Japan Economic Association (MAJECA) delivered his remarks.
From left-to-right: Mr Hiromitsu Narukama, President, JACTIM, Prof. SUZUKI Kazuto, Graduate School of Public Policy, The University of Tokyo, and Member of the Council for Japan’s Growth Strategy, Government of Japan, Mr KOMIYAMA Yasuji, Director-General for Trade Policy and Economic Cooperation, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Japan, Tan Sri Azman Hashim, President of the Malaysia-Japan Economic Association (MAJECA), H.E. SHIKATA Noriyuki, , Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Malaysia, YB Tuan Sim Tze Tzin, Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, YM Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister of Malaysia and Chairman of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), Datuk Hanafi Sakri, Deputy Secretary-General (Industry), Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), and Mr KIKUCHI Yo, Senior Managing Director, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).
Panel Session 1: Economic Security and Supply Chain
Prof. SUZUKI Kazuto, Graduate School of Public Policy, The University of Tokyo, and Member of the Council for Japan’s Growth Strategy, Government of Japan, delivered the Keynote Speech for Panel Session 1.
Panel Session 1 (from left-to-right) Session Moderator, Prof. Dr. Ong Kian-Ming, Pro Vice-Chancellor for External Engagement, Taylor’s University, and Former Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, Malaysia, Speakers: Mr KOMIYAMA Yasuji, Director-General for Trade Policy and Economic Cooperation, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Japan, Prof. SUZUKI Kazuto, Graduate School of Public Policy, The University of Tokyo, and Member of the Council for Japan’s Growth Strategy, Government of Japan, Mr KIKUCHI Yo, Senior Managing Director, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Dato’ Prof. Ulung Dr Rajah Rasiah, Distinguished Professor, Asia-Europe Institute (AEI), Universiti Malaya, and Tan Sri Nazir Razak, Former Chairman of ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC).
Panel Session 2: Resource and Energy Security / GX (Green Transformation)
Dr. TAKEUCHI Sumiko, Board Member and Senior Fellow, International Environment and Economy Institute (IEEI) Member of the Council for Japan’s Growth Strategy, Government of Japan delivered the Keynote Speech for Panel Session 2.
Panel Session 2 (from left-to-right) Session Moderator, Prof. Dr. Ong Kian-Ming, Pro Vice-Chancellor for External Engagement, Taylor’s University, and Former Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, Malaysia, Speakers: Dr. TAKEUCHI Sumiko, Board Member and Senior Fellow, International Environment and Economy Institute (IEEI) Member of the Council for Japan’s Growth Strategy, Government of Japan, Mr IZUMO Mitsuru, Founder, Euglena Co., Ltd., Dato’ Sri Zainal Abidin Ahmad, President and Chief Executive Officer, Perodua, and Ms Marina Md Taib, Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy, PETRONAS.
Panel Session 3: Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Semiconductor
Mr ITO Ren, Member of the Expert Working Group on AI & Semiconductor, the Council for Japan’s Growth Strategy, Government of Japan, and Co-Founder, Sakana AI delivered the Keynote Speech on Artificial Intelligence for Panel Session 3.
Dato’ Seri Wong Siew Hai, President, Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA), Former Vice President of Technology and Manufacturing Group (TMG), and General Manager of Assembly and Test Manufacturing (ATM), Intel delivered the Keynote Speech on Semiconductors for Panel Session 3.
Panel Session 3 (from left-to-right) Session Moderator, Dr. MARU Yukihiro, Founder and CEO, Leave a Nest Co., Ltd., Speakers: Mr ITO Ren, Member of the Expert Working Group on AI & Semiconductor, the Council for Japan’s Growth Strategy, Government of Japan, and Co-Founder, Sakana AI, Mr TSUCHIYA Masaru, Member of the Expert Working Group on Realizing Green Transformation (GX), Government of Japan, and Partner, McKinsey & Company, Mr Goh Peng Ooi, President, AI Malaysia (AIM) and Hon. Treasurer of MAJECA, and Dato’ Seri Wong Siew Hai, President, Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA), Former Vice President of Technology and Manufacturing Group (TMG), and General Manager of Assembly and Test Manufacturing (ATM), Intel.
Closing
H.E. SHIKATA Noriyuki, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Malaysia delivered the Closing Remarks before inviting the participants to partake in the Networking Luncheon.
Photo Gallery:
Media, News Articles & Links:
- Speech by YB Tuan Sim Tze Tsin Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry of Malaysia for New-Japan Malaysia Industrial Cooperation Seminar [31 March 2026] at https://www.miti.gov.my/miti/resources/Speech/New_Japan-Malaysia_Industrial_Cooperation_Seminar_YBTM_MITI_Remarks_Speech.pdf
- Malaysia and Japan strengthen industrial partnership through strategic cooperation seminar, 31 March 2026, Embassy of Japan in Malaysia, https://www.my.emb-japan.go.jp/files/101005286.pdf
- Malaysia and Japan strengthen industrial partnership through strategic cooperation seminar, 31 March 2026, Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), https://www.mida.gov.my/media-release/malaysia-and-japan-strengthen-industrial-partnership-through-strategic-cooperation-seminar/
- Malaysia should bolster Japan ties to stay competitive globally, 2 April 2026, BERNAMA, https://www.bernama.com/en/news.php/?id=2540329
- Malaysia reaffirms stable LNG supply to Japan amid global oil crisis, 1 April 2026, NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation), https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20260401_24/
- Malaysia seeks deeper Japan ties, boosts semiconductor push, 31 March 2026, New Straits Times, https://www.nst.com.my/business/economy/2026/03/1407251/malaysia-seeks-deeper-japan-ties-boosts-semiconductor-push
- Malaysia has high potential for enhanced cooperation in Japan’s strategic fields: Ambassador, 31 March 2026, BERNAMA, https://www.bernama.com/tv/news.php?id=2539529
MAJECA congratulates the Embassy of Japan for the successful organisation of the New Japan-Malaysia Industrial Cooperation Seminar, and records its appreciation to the Embassy of Japan for inviting MAJECA to be cooperating organiser.
MAJECA 