Greetings from MASSA !

2024 was an eventful year. 2025 is gearing up to be an interesting year for business for Malaysia.

In this April newsletter, we are most pleased to feature the Republic of Kazakhstan. This feature titled, “Kazakhstan: Working for Peace, Cooperation and Development” covers the Foreign Policy of the Republic, as well as providing a broad and detailed overview of the economy of this country. We thank H.E. Bulat Sugurbayev and the good office of the Embassy of Kazakhstan for the interesting feature.

We are also pleased to feature an article prepared by Mr Mohd Khairul Fidzal Abdul Razak, Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation (Bioeconomy Corporation), titled “Bio Breakthroughs: Unlocking Wealth with Bio-Based & Biotech in Malaysia” which provides an insightful introduction to the bioeconomy industry in Malaysia, and provides readers a glimpse at the strategic value of biotechnology and bio-based industries for businesses and the nation.  

MASSA organised a Webinar on Timor-Leste titled “Timor-Leste & ASEAN: Overview & Business Opportunities in Timor-Leste for Malaysia” on 15 January 2025 with the Embassy of Malaysia in Timor-Leste, Embassy of Timor-Leste in Malaysia, Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER) and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) Cross Border Investment Division. The webinar was timely as it coincided with the start of Malaysia’s Chairmanship of ASEAN, and provided an overview of Timor Leste and the potential business opportunities in Timor-Leste, as the nation continues in its diligent efforts to fulfil the criteria and requirements for its full ASEAN membership. At the conclusion of the webinar, MASSA announced it would be leading a business mission to Timor-Leste in 2025. This business mission to Dili is tentatively slated for 28 July – 1 August (5 days 4 nights). If you are a Malaysian company interested to participate, please reach out to the Secretariat to register your interest!

This Newsletter also records MASSA’s engagements and meetings since the last issue of our Newsletter in December 2024. They include a Courtesy Call by the Ambassador of Kazakhstan on the President of MASSA on 21 April 2025, and meetings with the Embassy of Kazakhstan, Country Heights Holdings Berhad, Bioeconomy Corporation and Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) respectively. We are also pleased to have reconnected with our counterparts in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry (UMFCCI) and the Myanmar Industries Association (MIA) on 12 March 2025. MASSA also participated in the Namibia – Malaysia Business Forum and the Uzbekistan – Malaysia Business Forum.

Additionally, this Newsletter reports on the 2^nd edition of the iDeas Xchange, a startup meetup and sharing session series jointly organised by MASSA, Kolaxus and the Malaysia-Japan Economic Association (MAJECA) with the aim to provide a platform and occasion for the meeting & convergence of startup entrepreneurs and corporates and businesspeople. Following its inaugural session on 5 December 2024, the 2^nd edition of iDeas Xchange held on 20 March 2025, featured presentations by Cradle Fund and four growth-stage startups who shared their insights and solutions under the theme of “Cross-Border Collaboration and Market Expansion”.

Finally, we want to thank our members, ex-officio, contributors, and partners for your support to date. MASSA aims to continue to present to members, trade and investment leads on, for and from the South-South developing countries and emerging markets, as well as discussions on emerging trends and topics that may be of interest to business.

To that end, more events & networking opportunities in the form of visits, sharing sessions, seminars and iDeas Xchange sessions are in the works. Do keep an eye out for our weekly Circulars and postings in our website www.massa.net.my.

We look forward to meet members at MASSA’s upcoming events.

Thank you.

Ng Su Fun

Editorial MASSA