SELANGOR government is working to position the state as a gateway to the Asean region, leveraging the fact that Malaysia’s 19% tariff rate on exports to the United States is similar to those of several other countries in South-East Asia.
State exco member Ng Sze Han said this level playing field made it an ideal opportunity to promote Selangor as a good investment environment.
“We want to tell potential investors that if they come to Selangor, they should not look at the small population that we have in Selangor, which is 7.4 million.
"Instead they should look at the entire Asean market, which is where Selangor can serve as a gateway to,” said Ng who was speaking after launching the Selangor International Business Summit (SIBS) 2025 in Shah Alam.
He expressed the state government's hopes to promote key sectors in Selangor through SIBS, which marks its ninth edition this year.
It will be held from Oct 8 to 11 at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur.
Ng listed aerospace, care economy, artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors as some of the focus areas, with Selangor Aeropark being a key focus for Selangor Aerospace Summit (SAS).
“Care economy is another sector that has huge potential in Selangor, which is why the state government wants to champion care economy and lead the sector in Malaysia,” said the Selangor investment, trade and mobility committee chairman.
“The care economy summit will have 60 exhibitors, mostly from Malaysia, plus a few from Asean and Europe,” he said, adding that it would encompass care for all ages, ranging from children to senior citizens.
SIBS 2025 will feature two new components - Selangor International Care Summit and SAS, a rebranded version of the Selangor Aviation Show.
The summit’s four other components were featured in previous editions -- Selangor International Food and Beverage Expo, Selangor Investment and Industrial Park Expo, Selangor Smart City and Digital Economy Convention and Selangor Asean Business Conference.
Ng said SIBS 2025 would return to its single-series format as a way of consolidating logistics and resources, as well as to attract more visitors to a single event.
Last year’s SIBS, which was held in July and October, saw nearly RM14bil of potential transactions.
It was previously reported that the event featured 664 exhibitors taking up 994 booths, and attracted 52,845 visitors.
When asked, Invest Selangor Bhd chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Hasan Azhari Idris said the agency has not set a specific target for SIBS 2025’s potential transactions, but was optimistic of achieving figures “slightly higher than last year”.
He added that Crew Lounge, a training school for cabin crew, was a new company that signed up to exhibit in SAS.
Also present at the launch were Selangor State Secretary Datuk Dr Ahmad Fadzli Ahmad Tajuddin, state women empowerment and welfare committee chairman Anfaal Saari and Menteri Besar Selangor Inc Group CEO Datuk Saipolyazan M. Yusop.
