Obamas will be in KL to speak at their foundation's inaugural Asia Pacific leaders gathering

FILE - In this Oct. 13, 2017 file photo, former President Barack Obama, right, and former first lady Michelle Obama arrive for the first session of the Obama Foundation Summit in Chicago. A documentary about an Ohio auto glass factory that is run by a Chinese investor debuted Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019, on Netflix, as the streaming service's first project backed by Michelle and Barack Obama's new production company. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

PETALING JAYA: Former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle will be in Malaysia to speak at the Obama Foundation's inaugural Asia Pacific leaders gathering in December.

The Obama Foundation announced that the gathering would bring together 200 emerging leaders from countries across Asia Pacific as part of a year-long programme focused on “values-based, ethical leadership”.

It said the 200 leaders are from more than 30 nations and territories across the region who work in various fields across the public and private sectors.

The Foundation added that the gathering would include plenary sessions, skills-building workshops, leadership development training, and networking opportunities.

“The Asia Pacific region holds a deep well of talented and passionate emerging leaders, and it is a region of great importance to President Obama given his strong roots in Indonesia and Hawaii.

“This programme will build upon the community organising legacy of the Obamas, with a focus on shared values and ethical leadership, and we are excited to embark on a year-long programme to empower these leaders to tackle the unique challenges they face in their communities, ” said Obama Foundation chief international officer Bernadette Meehan in a statement on Tuesday (Oct 15).

The Foundation said the gathering represents its commitment to the region, adding that it believes that these emerging leaders, through the work they do in their communities, have the potential to positively affect change across the globe.

It also said that the gathering would include several emerging leaders who focus on girls’ education and empowerment from across the region.

It said this would be following Michelle Obama's trip to Vietnam, also in December, as part of the Foundation's Girls Opportunity Alliance to raise awareness and action on the importance of adolescent girls’ education.

The gathering will take place from Dec 10 to 14 in Kuala Lumpur.