KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 — The state government is considering the possibility of holding an international edition of the Selangor International Business Summit (SIBS) overseas to further promote the state as a leading investment hub in Southeast Asia.
Menteri Besar Dato’s Seri Amirudin Shari said after successfully organising the summit for nine consecutive years, the state is now looking at a new approach to enhance its impact and outreach beyond the Klang Valley.
“We may consider holding SIBS in other locations, possibly abroad. The idea is to expand our reach, as certain markets are not only focused in Malaysia or neighbouring countries, but across the Asean region, which is home to over 600 million people,” he said.
Amirudin was speaking to the press after attending the SIBS appreciation lunch with the media organised by Invest Selangor Bhd today.
He added that the proposal aligns with SIBS’ objective of positioning Selangor as a gateway to Asean and strengthening regional investment networks.
“We are considering several formats moving forward to ensure that the main objective to promote businesses and Selangor as the best investment destination in Southeast Asia is achieved,” Amirudin said.
Selangor is also exploring the idea of inviting special delegations from Asean member states to promote their respective countries at SIBS.
He added that these proposals are still being discussed, and any decision will depend on the costs involved and the state’s capacity.
The Menteri Besar was asked to elaborate on his remarks earlier in his speech about expanding SIBS internationally and enhancing the event’s quality in the coming years.
Amirudin noted that the state is looking to highlight high-potential subsectors, like electrical and electronics (E&E) and life sciences, in upcoming editions of SIBS, as they have shown strong export performance and growth potential in Selangor.
“E&E, for example, is one of Selangor’s largest export sectors, yet it is not highlighted enough. Life sciences have also shown great potential and need to be further explored,” he said.
The state will continue to use SIBS as a platform to highlight emerging industries, promote innovation, and strengthen future networking opportunities, with next year’s edition potentially focusing on a sustainable economy.
This year’s SIBS, held from October 8 to October 11 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, recorded RM8.17 billion in potential transactions and featured 740 booths and 581 exhibitors from across the Asia-Pacific region.
The summit also drew 56,938 visitors from 89 countries, along with 179 speakers and 5,810 conference attendees.
The four-day event featured six flagship components: the Selangor Investment and Industrial Park Expo (Spark), the Selangor Asean Business Conference (SABC), the Selangor International F&B Expo (SIE F&B), the Selangor Smart City and Digital Economy Convention (SDEC), the Selangor Aerospace Summit (SAS), and the Selangor International Care Summit (SICS).
