By Sulyn Chong
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 — Selangor’s ambition of becoming a global trading hub will soon be realised, said state executive councillor for investment, industry and trade Dato’ Teng Chang Khim.
In his welcoming remarks during the opening ceremony of the Selangor International Business Summit 2022 (SIBS 2022) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre earlier today, he said the past two years have seen a significant number of players in the logistics and aerospace industry have selected Selangor as their regional operation centres.
“Under the First Selangor Plan (RS-1) running from 2021 to 2025, attractive incentives will be offered for developments in the districts of Kuala Langat and Sepang, under the Integrated Development Region In South Selangor (Idriss). In addition, Idriss will provide ample business opportunities in the Sabak Bernam Development Area (Sabda).
“Selangor is truly the gateway to Asean and SIBS has now established itself as the ideal platform for the world to meet Asean. As the fifth-largest economy in the world with a total combined GDP of RM3.2 trillion in 2019, Asean is poised to become the fourth largest in 2030,” Teng said.
He added the forecasts will only remain so unless every player in the Asean region pulls their respective weight and endeavours to bring this about.
“All Asean countries should come together, working even closer and harder than what we have been doing all these years,” Teng said, adding that with SIBS, Selangor is doing its very best by offering one of the most important platforms in the region for networking, collaboration and conducting business.
SIBS 2022 was officiated by the Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah earlier today, with approximately 906 booths from 623 companies.
This year's summit will run starting today until Sunday (October 9), with the aim of receiving some 30,000 visitors during its duration.
SIBS 2022 will showcase six main events, including the Selangor International Expo (SIE) Food and Beverages, SIE Medic, Selangor Industrial Park (Spark) Expo, the Selangor Asean Business Conference (SABC), the Selangor Smart City and Digital Economy Convention (SDEC), and the Selangor Research and Development and Innovation Expo (SRIE).
Three other events will also be held concurrently, including the Selangor International Culinary Festival (SICF), the Selangor International Healthcare Conference (SIHC) and the Asian Smart City Conference: Mayors Summit and Selangor Declaration.
The summit's international participants hail from 24 nations including Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Tajikistan, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Maldives, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, and the United States.
Similarly, Federal and state agencies that have set up pavilions at the summit include the Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority (Fama), Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara), the Malaysian Cocoa Board, the Malaysia Fishery Department and Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda), and 10 pavilions from Selangor, Sabah, Sarawak, Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Perak, Kedah, Perlis, and Penang.
