The Selangor Human Resource Development Centre (SHRDC) with the support of the Malaysia-Japan Economic Association (MAJECA) and Malaysia South-South Association (MASSA) organised a webinar titled “Smart Factory and Industry 4.0: A Practical and Sustainable Approach towards Digital Transformation” on 26 March 2024. This webinar is the second instalment of a three-part series of engagements with SHRDC with the view to equip members of MASSA and MAJECA, clients of SHRDC and the greater business community with relevant and timely insights to enhance businesses in their DX (digital transformation), GX (green transformation) and innovation journeys.

Smart Factory takes current manufacturing processes to Industry 4.0 standards. Highly effective and efficient machines are capable of data generation, visualization, and analytics. The integration and collaboration-based concept provides a holistic approach towards integration of technologies related to Industry 4.0 and beyond in a manufacturing process.

The webinar session provided an overview of these concepts and a unique perspective towards the implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies towards a Smart Factory. Ts. Dr. Chua Wen Shyan, shared a practical and sustainable approach towards accelerating adoption of digital transformation within organizations. The approach and concepts shared were tailored towards supporting the industries (especially the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)) to accelerate their growth towards effective and sustainable digital transformation.

The programme of the webinar was as follows:

Time	Item
10.00 am	Opening Remarks
10.05 am	Welcome Remarks MAJECA & MASSA
10.10 am	Smart Factory and Industry 4.0: A Practical and Sustainable Approach towards Digital Transformation Ts. Dr. Chua Wen-Shyan Certified COSIRI Assessor (CCA), Head of Malaysian Smart Factory 4.0, SHRDC
11.00 am	Question & Answer Session
11.30 pm	Closing Remarks & Announcements.

Ms Ng Su Fun, Executive Secretary, MAJECA & MASSA delivered the Welcome Remarks.

Ts. Dr. Chua Wen-Shyan, Certified COSIRI Assessor (CCA), Head of Malaysian Smart Factory 4.0, SHRDC giving his presentation.

The State Government of Kedah paid a Courtesy Visit on MAJECA on 22 February 2024 wherein the representatives of the State Government met with YBhg Tan Sri Azman Hashim, President of MAJECA at his Boardroom, 26^th Floor, Bangunan AmBank Group, Kuala Lumpur.

The State Government of Kedah’s delegation comprised:

1. Honourable YB Dr. Haim Hilman bin Abdullah (State Executive Council Member & Chairman of the Standing Committee for Industry & Investment, Higher Learning, and Science, Technology & Innovation for the State of Kedah)
2. Mr. Noor Ikhsan Bin Abdul Aziz (Chief Operation Officer, Invest Kedah)
3. Mr. Mohd Amirul Adzha Bin Mohd Sollehhuddin (Assistant Director, State Economic Planning Unit)
4. Mr. Abdul Muti Bin Dato’ Abdul Hamid (General Manager – Pre Investment, Invest Kedah)
5. Mr. Muhammad Aidil Akmak Bin Sharidan (Special Officer to The Honourable Dr. Haim Hilman)
6. Mr. Abdul Muhaimin bin Abdul Mutalib (Executive – Pre Investment, Invest Kedah)

The meeting discussed how the State of Kedah is seeking to drive more Japanese investments into the state and how Kedah is positioning itself as an attractive destination for investments, especially in the fields of education, industrial expansion & development.

(from left-to-right):
Mr Mohd Amirul Adzha Bin Mohd Sollehhuddin, Assistant Director, State Economic Planning Unit, Ms Ng Su Fun, Executive Secretary, MAJECA, Mr Noor Ikhsan Bin Abdul Aziz, Chief Operation Officer, Invest Kedah, YBhg Tan Sri Azman Hashim, President, MAJECA, Hon. YB Dr. Haim Hilman bin Abdullah, State Executive Council Member & Chairman of the Standing Committee for Industry & Investment, Higher Learning, and Science, Technology & Innovation for the State of Kedah, Mr. Abdul Muti Bin Dato’ Abdul Hamid, General Manager – Pre Investment, Invest Kedah,  Mr. Abdul Muhaimin bin Abdul Mutalib, Executive – Pre Investment, Invest Kedah, and Mr. Muhammad Aidil Akmak Bin Sharidan, Special Officer to the Honourable Dr. Haim Hilman.

MAJECA and InvestPerak organised a luncheon meeting with representatives of the Embassy of Japan, Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) Kuala Lumpur and the Japanese Chamber of Trade and Industry, Malaysia (JACTIM) on 8 February 2024. The meeting was also joined by the Alumni Look East Policy Society (ALEPS) and the Japan Graduates’ Association of Malaysia (JAGAM). YBhg Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal, Vice-President, MAJECA chaired the meeting.

The meeting representatives were as follows:

1. YBhg Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal, Vice-President, MAJECA
2. Ms Ng Su Fun, Executive Secretary, MAJECA
3. Mr Hosomi Masahi, Economic Counsellor, Embassy of Japan
4. Mr Nakao Tadayori, First Secretary, Embassy of Japan
5. Mr Nakagawa Tatsuya, Second Secretary, Embassy of Japan
6. Mr Tanaka Koki, Third Secretary, Embassy of Japan
7. Mr Koichi Takano, Managing Director, JETRO
8. Ms Itsuko Ago, Director, JETRO
9. Ms Esther Lai, JETRO
10. Mr Takero Sawamura, President, JACTIM
11. Mr Daisuke Tanaka, Secretary General, JACTIM
12. Mr Gary Tang, President, JAGAM
13. En Isrami Ismail, ALEPS
14. En Hashim Ghani, CEO, InvestPerak
15. Dr Ahmad Shahir, Senior Manager, InvestPerak
16. Pn Adina Abdullah, Manager, InvestPerak

Group photo of the participants.

The Selangor Human Resource Development Centre (SHRDC) with the support of MAJECA and Malaysia South-South Association (MASSA) organised a webinar titled “COSIRI Framework for ESG towards Sustainable Manufacturing” on 18 January 2024. The webinar saw the participation of over 100 attendees. YBhg Tan Sri Azman Hashim, President of MAJECA and MASSA delivered the Welcome Remarks.

At the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023 in Davos, the International Centre for Industrial Transformation (INCIT) launched its Consumer Sustainability Industry Readiness Index, or COSIRI. The first of its kind, COSIRI is an independent, manufacturer-centric framework that is set to benchmark the sustainability maturity of global industry players and their ESG transparency and reporting.

The Consumer Sustainability Industry Readiness Index (COSIRI) is a comprehensive framework and set of tools designed to assist manufacturers, regardless of size or industry, to embed sustainability into all their operations. COSIRI serves as an independent benchmarking system to assess the sustainability maturity of manufacturers, help guide future roadmaps, and enhance Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) transparency and reporting for manufacturing organisations.

The programme of the webinar was as follows:

Time	Item
10.00 am	Opening Remarks
10.05 am	Welcome Remarks YBhg Tan Sri Azman Hashim, President, MAJECA & MASSA
10.10 am	ESG Webinar: Eager to Begin your Sustainability Journey? Ts. Dr. Chua Wen-Shyan Certified COSIRI Assessor (CCA), Head of Malaysian Smart Factory 4.0, SHRDC
11.40 am	Question & Answer Session
12.00 pm	Closing Remarks & Announcements.

YBhg Tan Sri Azman Hashim
President, MAJECA & MASSA delivering his Welcome Remarks.

Ts. Dr. Chua Wen-Shyan
Certified COSIRI Assessor (CCA), Head of Malaysian Smart Factory 4.0, SHRDC giving his presentation.

MAJECA, represented by Ms Ng Su Fun, Executive Secretary and Mr Samuel Loh, Programme Executive met with the Management Team of InvestPerak on 17 January 2024.

Mr Mohamad Hashim bin Abdul Ghani, Chief Executive, Dr Ahmad Shahir bin Abdul Aziz, Senior Manager and Mr Mohamad Shahriman Arif bin Mohd Shariff, Investor Relations Manager represented InvestPerak at the meeting.

The meeting discussed how InvestPerak and MAJECA could collaborate to raise awareness amongst the Japanese investing community about the investment opportunities in Perak State.

From left-to-right:
Mr Samuel Loh, Programme Executive, MAJECA, Ms Ng Su Fun, Executive Secretary, MAJECA, Mr Mohamad Hashim bin Abdul Ghani, Chief Executive, Dr Ahmad Shahir bin Abdul Aziz, Senior Manager and Mr Mohamad Shahriman Arif bin Mohd Shariff, Investor Relations Manager

MAJECA, alongside 55 other associations and chambers of commerce representing over 10,000 companies across various economic sectors, had on 4 December 2023 at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the newly established Government-Industry Coordination Body (GITC) on the occasion of its official launch in conjunction with the Launching Ceremony of the Polytechnic Transformation Roadmap 2023-2030.

The GITC was established as a tripartite coordination body involving representatives of all economic sectors at the national level and serve as a single platform to realise the industry-driven TVET agenda to coordinate integrated industry intelligence/inputs and advice in workforce development/manpower requirement and skills needs.

The Memorandum was aimed at fostering future talent needs and driving industry-led TVET empowerment agenda. Representing MAJECA at this Ceremony was YBhg Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal, Vice-President of MAJECA.

Further information about the 4 December 2023 Ceremony and the GITC can be read here: https://www.fmm.org.my/Announcements-@-GITC_Poised_to_Steer_the_National_TVET_Agenda_By_Implementing_Strategic_Collaboration_with_All_Stakeholders.aspx

The Managing Director, Mr Koichi Takano met MAJECA President, YBhg Tan Sri Azman Hashim on 17 November 2023. Accompanying them were Mr Hiroyuki Nitta, Deputy Managing Director, JETRO, Ms Itsuko Ago, Director, JETRO, YBhg Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal, Vice-President, MAJECA and Ms Ng Su Fun, Executive Secretary, MAJECA.

The meeting was organised for the leadership of MAJECA to meet with the new leadership of JETRO Kuala Lumpur who had recently assumed office. The meeting highlighted areas of mutual & actionable interest and cooperation between Malaysia and Japan which include SMEs, supply chain and food security.

From left-to-right:
Ms Ng Su Fun, Executive Secretary, MAJECA, Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal, Vice-President, MAJECA, Mr Koichi Takano, Managing Director, JETRO Kuala Lumpur, Tan Sri Azman Hashim, President, MAJECA, Mr Hiroyuki Nitta, Deputy Managing Director, JETRO Kuala Lumpur and Ms Itsuko Ago, Director, JETRO Kuala Lumpur.

The 49^th ASEAN – Japan Business Meeting (AJBM) hosted by AJBM Singapore and the Japan Association of Corporate Executives (Keizai Doyukai) was held at Raffles City Convention Center, Singapore. A total of 150 members comprising business leaders and industry captains from across ASEAN and Japan registered. MAJECA (AJBM Malaysia) was represented by Mr Raja Hamzah Abidin, Executive Committee Member of MAJECA and Ms Ng Su Fun, Executive Secretary.

The ASEAN-Japan Business Meeting (AJBM) is a multilateral, private-led forum between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The inaugural meeting was held in 1974 in Tokyo, Japan, on the initiative of Keizai Doyukai, one of the influential national business organizations in Japan.

Behind the creation of this forum was a strong belief among the Keizai Doyukai members of the time, that economic exchange on the private-sector level, supplementing official development aid, should play a key role to realize stability and development of the East-Asian countries. In comparison with other international conferences and forum, the AJBM is unique in providing an arena for private sector dialogue between Japan and ASEAN as a region.

AJBM Singapore and Keizai Doyukai, showcased a new format for the ASEAN-Japan Business Meeting. With the cooperation of Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting Group and the AJBM National Committees in ASEAN countries, this 49^th meeting showcased real voices and latest trends to businesses in ASEAN & Japan. A series of workshops were held in the lead up to the AJBM with the assistance of Deloitte fraternity across ASEAN and Japan. The outcomes of these workshops on key business agendas were outlined and discussed at the 49th ASEAN-Japan Business Meeting (AJBM).

Building on the outcomes of the 48^th AJBM, wherein ASEAN-Japan partnership was further underscored, and human resources as a top priority issue was identified. The 49^th AJBM, themed “ASEAN–Japan Common Agenda in the Value Co-Creation Era” highlighted additional key business agendas built on the aforementioned workshops, which included sustainable mobility and digital experiences to drive sustainable growth.

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Opening Session

• Mr Cecil Leong, Chairman, 49^th AJBM (AJBM Singapore), PSA Singapore delivered the Welcome Remarks.
• Mr Yuji Hirako, Co-Chairman, 49^th AJBM (Keizai Doyukai), Vice Chairman, ANA Holdings Inc., delivered the Welcome Remarks.
• H.E. Koji Ishikawa, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Singapore delivered the Guest Remarks.
• Mr Eugene Ho, CEO, Deloitte Southeast Asia delivered the Guest Remarks.
• The Keynote Speech was delivered by H.E. Tommy Koh, Ambassador-at-Large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore

Mr Fumikazu Kitagawa, Partner, Deloitte, Japan delivered the introduction to the aforementioned new concept & format of the AJBM and proceeding AJBM Plenary Sessions.

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Plenary Session 1: Sustainable Mobility – Carbon Neutral Realities in ASEAN

Mr Takashi Kuwabara, Partner, Deloitte, Japan delivered the opening presentation on the above theme. Following that, the session then proceeded to a panel discussion comprising:

• Mr Koji Ikeya, Former Representative Executive Officer, Executive Vice President, Mistubishi Motors Corporation
• Mr Kasemsit Pathomsak, Vice Chairman, Board of Trade of Thailand (BoT)
• Ms Corieh Dichosa, Executive Director, Philippine Board of Investments
• H.E. Dr Yusra Khan, Ambassador, Environment Stakeholder Member National Energy Council, Indonesia & Ambassador of Indonesia to the Republic of Mexico
• Mr Brian Ho Chi Kuen, Partner, Deloitte, Singapore
• Mr Takashi Kuwabara, Partner, Deloitte, Japan
• Mr Rikuto Yamada, Manager, Deloitte, Singapore moderated the session

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Plenary Session 2: Digital Experience – Sustainable Growth through Creating New Digital Experiences

Mr Takuya Shiotani, Executive Director, Deloitte, Singapore and Mr Rasheed Deen Basheer Ahmad, Manager, Deloitte, Singapore delivered a presentation on the above theme. The session the proceeded to a panel discussion moderated by Mr Kenichiro Hashiguchi, Senior Manager, Deloitte, Singapore. The panel comprised:

• Mr Raja Hamzah Abidin, Co-Founder and Co-Managing Partner, RHL Ventures, Malaysia and Executive Committee Member of MAJECA
• Ms Gan-Low Mai Leong, Head, Economics & Investment, Iskandar Regional Development Authority, Malaysia
• Mr Kuniyoshi Mabuchi, Partner, Deloitte, Japan

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The AJBM then adjourned for a lunch session where H.E. Masahiko Kiya (1st pic below), Ambassador of the Mission of Japan to ASEAN and Mr Eddie Ng (2nd pic below), Head, Digital & Data Strategy, PSA BDP, Singapore gave guest speeches respectively titled “ASEAN and Japan – Beyond the 50^th Year of Friendship and Cooperation” and “Data & Digital Solutions for Supply Chain Resilience.

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Plenary Session 3: Human Resources Value Chain – Human Resource Platform to Unleash Value Co-Creation in the Region

Mr Kazufumi Watanabe, Group Chief Transformation Officer, Executive Vice President and Executive Officer, Sompo Holdings Inc. delivered a presentation & moderated the panel discussion. The panel comprised:

• Mr Jiraphant Asvatanakul, Vice Chairman, Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC)
• Mr Ferdinand A. Ferrer, Chairman and CEO, EMS Group, Co-Chairman, Philippines-Japan Economic Cooperation Committee, Inc. (PHILJEC)
• Mr Avishek Nandy, Partner, Bain & Company Inc., Singapore
• Mr Hiroyuki Tsutsumi, SEVP, Corporate Executive Officer, Fujitsu Limited
• Ms Asuka Hamakawa, CEO, Earth Company & Mana Earthly Paradise, Japan

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The Wrap-up session saw Mr Fuchu Takaaki (1st pic below), AJBM Singapore Representative Partner, Deloitte on behalf Mr Tetsuya Watanabe, President, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) and Mr Kalin Sarasin (2nd pic below), Honorary Chairman, Thai Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade of Thailand who delivered their inputs to wrap-up the deliberations of the day and announced that AJBM Thailand had accepted to host the 50^th Golden Jubilee ASEAN-Japan Business Meeting in Thailand in 2024.

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The AJBM then proceeded to its Closing Session.

Mr Naoaki Mashita, Vice Chairman, Keizai Doyukai and Chairman & Group CEO (Founder), V-Cube Inc. delivered his Closing Remarks.

Mr Cecil Leong, Chairman, 49^th AJBM (AJBM Singapore), PSA Singapore delivered his Closing Remarks.

Further information on the 49th ASEAN-Japan Business Meeting, including the videos of the presentations and related documents can be viewed on the Keizai Doyukai website on the following: https://www.doyukai.or.jp/en/policyproposals/2023/231103event&info.html

The Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) led by JCCI Chairman Mr. Ken Kobayashi brought a delegation of 50 Japanese businessmen to Malaysia on 25 October 2023. The purpose of the Mission is to facilitate bilateral economic relationships and promote the cooperation of small- and medium-size enterprises between Japan and Malaysia.

In conjunction with the JCCI Mission, the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) co-hosted a Malaysia-Japan Economic Dialogue with JCCI and Nikkei on 25 October 2023 at InterContinental Kuala Lumpur. MAJECA and its members were invited to attend this Dialogue. YB Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry graced the Dialogue and delivered a Keynote Address.

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The Dialogue began with remarks from the leadership of FMM and JCCI.

Mr Ken Kobayashi, Chairman, Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI)

Tan Sri Dato’ Soh Thian Lai, President, Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM)

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Session 1: Malaysia’s Advantage and Attractiveness of Investment

(from left-to-right) Mr Toru Takahashi, Nikkei moderated the discussion. The panel speakers comprised: Mr Kuniharu Nakamura, Chairman, Sumitomo Corporation & Vice President, JAMECA, Mr Shinichiro Shimizu, Executive Vice President, Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. and Mr Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid, Senior Executive Director, Investment Policy Advocacy, MIDA.

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Following the discussion, a guest presentation by Dr Yukihiro Maru, Founder & Group CEO, Leave A Nest was delivered before the Keynote Speech from YB Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (pic below).

The Dialogue then adjourned for a networking coffee break before resuming with the next Plenary Session.

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Session 2: Accelerating Holistic Growth for a Competitive Industry

(from left-to-right) Mr Akito Tanaka, Nikkei moderated the discussion. The panel speakers comprised:   Mr Seiji Kuraishi, Chairman and Director, Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Mr Danny Ng, CEO, MTS Fibromat (M) Sdn Bhd and Mr Hiroya Kawasaki, Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster (KBIC). 

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The Dialogue concluded with a guest presentation by Sankyu Inc. (pic below).

Deloitte SEA Working Group for Digital Experience, with the support of Deloitte Malaysia, Keizai Doyukai and MAJECA organised a Digital Experience Showcase Workshop in Malaysia on 5 October 2023. This Showcase Workshop was organised as a part of the preparatory engagements in the lead up to the 49^th ASEAN-Japan Business Meeting.

This Showcase Workshop was organised to share the findings and ideas of Deloitte SEA Working Group on the themes of: (i) customer growth / sustainability transformation (ii) regional revitalisation and (iii) the role of digitalisation & big data to deepen the understanding of the issues, challenges faced by stakeholders and industry players, and offer sustainable solutions while exploring collaboration opportunities.

Participants comprised government ministries & agencies and the private sector. The discussion moderated by Deloitte addressed and highlighted the observations, insights, challenges and pain points faced by the participants in their respective industries.

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