KUALA LUMPUR: Invest Selangor Bhd is all set to showcase Selangor’s decade of economic leadership and its status as a trusted regional gateway with the return of the Selangor International Business Summit (SIBS) 2026.
Scheduled for Oct 14-17 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), this 10th-anniversary milestone marks a strategic expansion of Selangor’s influence across the South-East Asian landscape.
Since its 2015 debut as a localised trade initiative with 400 booths, SIBS, formerly known as the Selangor International Expo (SIE), has evolved from hosting expos to building a comprehensive economic ecosystem.
“This journey mirrors Selangor’s own transition; we’ve moved beyond being just a manufacturing hub to becoming a mature investment facilitation platform,” said Invest Selangor Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Hasan Azhari Idris.
A legacy of consistency and stability
Selangor continues to be the “economic heartbeat” of Malaysia, contributing 26.2% to the national gross domestic product (GDP), reflecting the concentration of major industries and economic activities within the state.
SIBS has evolved from a boutique trade event into a powerhouse of regional commerce, mirroring Selangor’s own economic growth trajectory.
Over the past decade, the summit has grown from attracting 4,316 visitors in 2015 to a peak of 57,249 visitors in 2023, while facilitating a cumulative RM30.56bil in potential transaction value, including a record RM13.86bil achieved in 2024.
Beyond trade and investment, SIBS has also established itself as a premier centre for regional thought leadership, hosting over 1,081 speakers and welcoming more than 23,000 conference attendees to drive conversations on Asean’s evolving economic landscape.
The global leap
To commemorate this decade of success, Invest Selangor is launching SIBS@Asean, a regional activation strategy designed to transform the summit into a cross-border business movement.
The inaugural activation, the SIBS@Asean Bandung edition, will take place from July 9-10.
Bandung was strategically chosen as the debut destination due to its striking economic similarities to Selangor, as both regions serve as primary industrial and innovation hubs for their respective nations, with strong focuses on manufacturing, technology and vibrant small and medium enterprises (SMEs) ecosystems.
“SIBS@Asean marks our next chapter. As regional supply chains realign, Selangor is positioning itself as a regional connector.
“We anticipate bringing approximately 50 Selangor-based companies to the Bandung edition in July 2026. Given the shared economic characteristics of Selangor and Jawa Barat, this initiative ensures our local businesses remain globally competitive and relevant,” said Hasan Azhari.
Strategic pillars
Reflecting a decade of industrial evolution, SIBS 2026 is anchored by seven specialised components:
> Selangor Asean Business Conference (SABC): Advancing trade, investment and regional economic collaboration;
> Selangor Investment Forum: Emphasising key industrial sectors and investment opportunities;
> Selangor Investment and Industrial Park Expo (SPARK): Supporting industrial expansion needs through a one-stop platform;
> Selangor Techsphere Summit: Focusing on technical talent and industrial innovation;
> Selangor AI and Semiconductor Summit (AISEM): Highlighting leadership in the “new oil” of the global economy, featuring IC design, semiconductor and AI companies;
> Selangor International Care Expo: Addressing the “silver economy” and turning social necessity into a high-value investment vertical;
> Selangor Career Outreach (SCOUT) Talent Expo: Bridging the talent gap in partnership with the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO).
“We are future-proofing Selangor by making technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors – industries that will define the next 50 years – core pillars for our 10th anniversary,” he said, highlighting the state’s strategic focus on specialised sectors where it holds distinct competitive advantages.
Talent and infrastructure
SCOUT Talent Expo 2026 will take place from Oct 15-17 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. The expo is expected to feature more than 100 employers and attract over 10,000 job seekers, offering career opportunities with salaries starting from RM2,500 for semi-skilled,
high-skilled and professional workforce segments.
Designed to strengthen graduate employability and workforce readiness across Selangor, the initiative reflects the state’s continued emphasis on talent development as a key driver of economic growth.
In addition to live interview sessions, the expo will also feature career talks, resume clinics and talent development initiatives across key strategic industries such as Electrical and Electronics (E&E), Machinery and Equipment, Automotive, Aerospace and Rail, Life Sciences, as well as Global Business Services and Digital Technology.
Future vision
As Invest Selangor looks past this 10th-anniversary celebration, the long-term vision is clear: Anchor and Retain.
“We’ve spent 10 years becoming the entry point to Asean; the focus for the next decade is to become the permanent home for high-stakes, quality investments.
“We will continue to sharpen our infrastructure, improve our talent readiness, lead the charge in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR4.0) and ensure that Selangor remains the undisputed premier destination for global capital,” he added.
Investors, policymakers and business communities across Malaysia and Asean are invited to witness this milestone and explore new growth frontiers by visiting selangorsummit.com.
