FMM President, Tan Sri Dato' Soh Thian Lai, attended the East Asia Business Forum 2025 this morning as a member of EABC Malaysia. The forum, held at the M World Hotel in Petaling Jaya, gathered over 180 leaders and experts under the theme, "East Asia Reimagined: Building Business Resilience in a Disrupted World." The event began with welcoming remarks from Tan Sri Azman Hashim, EABC Chair 2025, and Mr. Li Feng, Chief Representative of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) in Indonesia, representing Mr Nie Wenhui, EABC Co-Chair 2025.
The first panel, "Digital Sustainability – The Convergence of Tech & ESG," was moderated by Mr. Jeremy Tan, CEO of Liquid Group. The discussion featured a distinguished group of experts: Datuk Shahril Azuar Jimin (Maybank), Mr. Johnson Chang (Hextar Group), Mr. Ong Kian Yew (PIKOM), and Mr. Max Lee (Pantas Climate Solution). The panelists shared insights on how technological innovation can be leveraged to achieve environmental, social, and governance objectives.
Following the panel, Dr. Mari Elka Pangestu, Special Envoy to the President of Indonesia, delivered a special address on "Resilient Growth in East Asia: Balancing Disruptions with Inclusive and Sustainable Development." Her session provided valuable reflections on the challenges and opportunities facing the region, highlighting pathways toward long-term growth and resilience.
The second panel, "Future-proofing East Asia Against Geoshocks," delved into economic strategies for a turbulent world. Moderated by Mr. Norman Goh of Nikkei Asia, the discussion included Mr. Tetsuya Watanabe (Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia), Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Rebecca Fatima Sta. Maria (IDEAS), Dr. Robert Yap (YCH Group), and Mr. Ahmed Zaki Moten (Micron Technology, Inc.). The experts identified proactive measures and collaborative approaches to mitigate risks and ensure stability.
The forum concluded with a special address from YB Tuan Liew Chin Tong, Malaysia's Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, who underscored the importance of regional collaboration and technological advancement. The event also marked the official launch of EABC's new website, a user-friendly platform designed to serve as a central hub for communication and collaboration. EABC expressed its gratitude to Mr. Jeremy Tan and his team at Liquid Group for their dedication in bringing the project to life.
About FMM
The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) has been the voice of the Malaysian manufacturing sector since 1968. Representing over 13,100 member companies (4,100 direct and 9,000 indirect) from the manufacturing supply chain, FMM is actively engaged with government and its key agencies at Federal, State and local levels. FMM is also well-linked with international organisations, Malaysian businesses and civil society. Apart from benefitting from FMM’s advocacy, FMM members enjoy value-add services, including training, business networking and trade opportunities as well as regular information updates.
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