Prestigious night of networking

Host Julie Woon (left) conversed with (from left) RHB’s Yip, CGC’s Leong, Maxis’ Lee and PKT Logistics Group’s Kuan to find out how businesses can best defend their businesses against new challenges. Held at Jaguar Land Rover, Sime Darby Auto Connexion in Selangor, the inaugural SOBA Prestige event went beyond networking to serve as a platform for its alumni to gain knowledge and share experiences among SOBA alumni. – AZMAN GHANI /The Star

THE Star Outstanding Business Awards (SOBA) alumni gathered in excitement for the inaugural networking event SOBA Prestige, held at Jaguar Land Rover, Sime Darby Auto Connexion in Petaling Jaya.

Dressed to the theme of denim and leather, past SOBA recipients turned up for a casual evening on Oct 29 with like-minded entrepreneurs to explore networking and business opportunities, especially for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Sime Darby Motors Retail and Distribution Malaysia managing director Jeffrey Gan said guests were excited to catch up with their peers.

“People are delighted to meet each other in person, especially with an event like SOBA Prestige,” he said.

RHB SME Banking head Yip How Nang said the event was a good occasion because despite the current hardships, people could still meet up to share information.

“All banks in Malaysia are very committed to helping SMEs. RHB specifically has provided more than RM20bil in financial assistance since the pandemic began until September,” he said.

Maxis’ Lee (third from left) and Maxis SME sales head David Yong (second from left) posing for a commemorative photo with their team members at the Maxis booth during SOBA Prestige. Lee says SOBA has set the benchmark for innovative SMEs and will continue to inspire smaller businesses to improve themselves.

Maxis SME segment head Kevin Lee said SOBA had set a standard of how innovative SMEs should be.

“It is a very good benchmark and award. It will continue to inspire a lot more SMEs to want to do better,” he said.

SOBA is not just an award — as PKT Logistics Group chief marketing officer Kuan Eu Jin opined, it is also a platform that provides participants with an enriching networking experience and the chance to benchmark against one another to improve themselves.

“The entrepreneurs will know what kind of practices win awards and look forward to achieving them,” he said.

Carlsberg Malaysia corporate affairs director Pearl Lai said Star Media Group (SMG) should be commended for choosing to continue running SOBA to promote SMEs in Malaysia.

“We believe that economic recovery is key, post-pandemic.

“SME owners are among the drivers of the Malaysian economy and are the engine behind its recovery.

“We should all continue our respective roles in driving the positive momentum to improve our country’s economy,” she said.

CGC’s Leong (left) and CGC SME advisory and marketing vice-president Jenny Hoh (right) with their team members at the CGC booth during SOBA Prestige. Leong says the event was a good opportunity for people to socialise and share experiences on the new ways of doing business, by learning from each other.

“It’s a good time for people to socialise and share experiences on the new ways of doing business, by learning from each other,” said Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia (CGC) chief business officer Leong Weng Choong.

SOBA 2021 is organised by SMG with CGC, Maxis, PKT Logistics Group and RHB as main sponsors and Matrade as official trade promotion partner.

Supported by International Trade and Industry Ministry and Bursa Malaysia, it is audited by BDO.

988 and Suria are official media partners.

For SOBA Prestige 2021, its official Prestige partners are Sime Darby Motors as venue sponsor and Carlsberg Malaysia as beverage sponsor.

For more information on SOBA 2021, call The Star Events at 017-231 1789 or visit www.soba.com.my