Diary of Events (December 2023 Issue)
MASSA was invited by the Bangladesh – Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BMCCI) to speak on a panel in a Seminar titled “Deepening Bangladesh and Malaysia’s Economic Relationship: Role of a Trade Agreement” on 5 September 2023. This Seminar was held as part of the 6th Showcase Malaysia hosted by BMCCI in Sheraton Dhaka, Bangladesh.
The Session was attended by H.E. Haznah Md Hashm, High Commissioner of Malaysia to Bangladesh, and Dr M Masrur Reaz, Chairman, Policy Exchange Bangladesh was the moderator. A Keynote Paper was presented by Dr Mostafa Abid Khan, Former Member of Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC).
The panel comprised of the following four speakers:
- 1. Mr Noor Md Mahbubul Haq, Additional Secretary (FTA), Ministry of Commerce
- 2. Mr Syed Moazzam Hossain, Past President, BMCCI & Managing Director of SMH Engineering Ltd
- 3. Mr Wan Ahmad Tarmizi Wan Idris (pic above, center), Trade Commissioner, MATRADE Chennai
- 4. Ms Ng Su Fun (pic above, right), Executive Secretary, MASSA
MASSA wish to thank the Bangladesh-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BMCCI) for inviting MASSA to participate at the Seminar.
From right-to-left: Dr Mohamed Ashraf Iqbal, Chairman, Waafi Bank, Ms Azmin Hamzah, EXIM Bank, Dr Liza Mydin, Chief Strategy Officer, EXIM Bank, Ms Shamini Sakthinathan, FMM, Ms Ng Su Fun, Executive Secretary, MASSA, Ms Jess Chong, FMM and Mr Samuel Loh, MASSA.
The Economic Development Board Mauritius (EDB) in collaboration with the High Commission of the Republic of Mauritius in Kuala Lumpur hosted a Country Presentation titled ‘Through Mauritius and Beyond’ on 13 September 2023. Members of MASSA and the MASSA Secretariat attended this event.
The Economic Development Board (EDB) of Mauritius, under the authority of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius and operating under the aegis of the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, is the national governmental agency for the promotion of Mauritius as an investment and business centre, a competitive export platform as well as an International Financial Centre (IFC). EDB Mauritius is the focal point and unique interface for all foreign nationals wishing to invest, trade, do business, work, live and retire in Mauritius. (www.edbmauritius.org).
H.E. Jagdishwar Goburdhun, High Commissioner of Mauritius to Malaysia delivered the Welcome Address.
Mr Hemraj Ramnial, Chairman, Economic Development Board Mauritius delivered the Keynote Address.
Mr Sachin Mohabeer, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Economic Development Board Mauritius delivered the Mauritius Country Presentation – Investment Opportunities Across Sectors.
Mr Abrar Anwar, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bank (Mauritius) delivered a testimonial on Standard Chartered Bank’s experience in Mauritius.
The Country Presentation highlighted how Mauritius can serve as the gateway for businesses to distribute their products and goods to the African continent and to other markets beyond Africa by leveraging Mauritius’ strong economic fundamentals, freeport services and broad FTAs especially with African nations, North America, Europe.
(from left-to-right)
Ms Sarah Bakri, MyAIRA, Ms Ng Su Fun, Executive Secretary, MASSA, Ms Naznin Nahar Begum, eCAB, Ms Farha Mahmud Trina, eCAB and Ms Hanniz Lam, MyAIRA.
5) MASSA-CILT-MAPAN Webinar: Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and its Adoption in Malaysia on 27 September 2023 via Zoom
MASSA with the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Malaysia and the Malaysian Association of Public Advocacy for Nature (MAPAN) jointly organised a webinar attended by over 100 participants, titled ‘Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and its Adoption in Malaysia’ on 27 September 2023 over Zoom.
This webinar was organised to provide insights into the current developments in the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) spectrum in Malaysia, and to equip Malaysian businesses with practical insights and inputs from industry experts and peers who have made / are making the transition to adopt ESG in their operations.
The programme of the Webinar was as follows:
| Time | Item |
| 10.00 am | Opening Remarks by YBhg Tan Sri Azman Hashim, President, MASSA
|
| 10.10 am | Current Development in the ESG Spectrum and Malaysia’s National ESG Framework by Mr Ben Ong, Chairman, MAPAN
|
| 10.30 am | ESG Adoption Journey, Best Practices and Pitfalls to Avoid by Mr Shane Guha Thakurta, General Manager, Investor Relations and Sustainability, IJM Corporation Berhad
|
| 10.50 am | Cascasding ESG Adoption to Vendors – Challenges and Lessons Learnt by Mr Chan Huan Ong, Assistant General Manager, IJM IBS Sdn Bhd
|
| 11.10 – 11.30 am | Q & A Session and Closing Remarks by Moderator,
Mdm Reshma Yousuf, Council Member, CILT Malaysia |
YBhg Tan Sri Azman Hashim, President, MASSA delivered the Opening Remarks.
Mr Ben Ong, Chairman, MAPAN delivered a presentation titled “Current Development in the ESG Spectrum and Malaysia’s National ESG Framework”.
Mr Shane Guha Thakurta, General Manager, Investor Relations and Sustainability, IJM Corporation Berhad delivered a presentation titled “ESG Adoption Journey, Best Practices and Pitfalls to Avoid”.
Mr Chan Huan Ong, Assistant General Manager, IJM IBS Sdn Bhd delivered a presentation titled “Cascading ESG Adoption to Vendors – Challenges and Lessons Learnt”.
Mdm Reshma Yousuf, Council Member, CILT Malaysia moderated the session and delivered the Closing Remarks.
A group photo of the webinar role players.
The webinar recording can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqVMJX0IV_k.
MASSA and its membership were invited to attend a Briefing on the Malaysia – Djibouti Business Forum organised by the Export-Import Bank of Malaysia (EXIM Bank) at its premises in collaboration with MATRADE on 9 October 2023. MASSA was represented by YBhg Datuk Merlyn Kasimir, Hon. Assistant Secretary.
This Briefing was organised with the aim for the Malaysian business community to learn about Djibouti with the view to galvanise Malaysian participation at the Malaysia – Djibouti Business Forum and the 3rd Djibouti International Trade Fair from 29 November 2023 in Djibouti.
(from left-to-right) Mr Muhd Hairi Zainal Abidin, Manager, Central, West, South Asia & Africa Section, Export Promotion & Market Acccess Division, MATRADE, and Datuk Merlyn Kasimir, Hon. Asst. Secretary, MASSA.
(from left-to-right) Ms Ng Su Fun, Executive Secretary, MASSA, Datuk Merlyn Kasimir, Hon. Asst. Secretary, MASSA and Dr Ashraf Iqbal, Chairman, Waafi Bank.
The itinerary of the Briefing was as follows:
Mr Arshad Ismail, President / Chief Executive Officer, EXIM Bank delivered the Welcome Remarks.
Mr Amran Yem, Senior Director, Export Promotion and Market Access Division, MATRADE delivered the Opening Remarks.
Pn Nurbayu Kasim Chang, Chief Business Officer, EXIM Bank delivered a presentation titled “EXIM Bank Financial Solution for Malaysian Companies”.
Dr Ashraf Iqbal, Chairman, Waafi Bank delivered a presentation titled “Discover & Explore Business Opportunities in Djibouti” wherein he highlighted that many Djiboutians were graduates of Malaysian universities and that Djibouti is positioning itself to become the Singapore of Africa in line with its Djibouti Vision 2035 (https://economie.gouv.dj/vision-2035-english/).
Photos of the participants at the Briefing.
