By Yasmin Ramlan
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 18 — The Selangor International Business Summit (SIBS) 2024’s appreciation night, which took place on Friday (November 15) at The Majestic Hotel, celebrated the achievements and milestones of the state’s annual trade summit.
The dinner event was held to recognise the contributions of various stakeholders who have played a crucial role in making SIBS a significant platform for business networking and economic development in the region.
Since its inception in 2015, SIBS has experienced remarkable growth, attracting global brands and industry leaders from various sectors. This has established Selangor as a key player in the Asean economic landscape.
During the appreciation night, attendees were presented with speeches highlighting the successes of past events and unveiling the ambitious plans for SIBS 2025.
Themed ‘Selangor: The Gateway to Asean,’ for this year, the summit was showcased in two separate series, in which the first one was held from July 25 to July 27, and the second from October 16 to October 19, at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC).
The theme emphasised Selangor’s strategic position as a hub for international business and investment opportunities within the Asean region.
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Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari delivers his speech during the Selangor International Business Summit 2024 appreciation night, at The Majestic Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, on November 15, 2024. — Picture by HARUN TAJUDIN/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari described SIBS as playing a role in driving regional trade and investment, noting its remarkable growth since its inception, as well as establishing itself as a main platform for trade and investment in the region over the past decade.
He said the number of booths has increased by over 148.5 per cent from 400 to 994 this year, while potential transaction values have surged significantly, rising from RM182 million to RM13.86 billion.
Additionally, the event attracted more followers and visitors and has seen around 50,000 attendees in the last few years.
“These impressive figures underscore our continued commitment to driving economic exchange and positioning SIBS as a leading international business event that brings benefits not only to Selangor but, most importantly, to all our neighbouring states in Malaysia and friends in the Asean region.
“Our progress thus far reflects a steadfast commitment to creating a vibrant, inclusive economy supporting local and international enterprises.
“However, this is just the beginning. Through continued collaboration, Selangor is poised to rise as an economic powerhouse in Asean, leading the way for sustainable growth, technological advancement, and shared prosperity for all,” Amirudin said in his speech at the event.
Expressing his hope to continue evolving and improving the summit, the Menteri Besar said the summit’s next focus will be promoting high-growth sectors, embracing technological innovation, and cultivating a highly skilled international workforce capable of meeting the evolving demands of global industries.
“We are committed to ensuring that SIBS remains a beacon of opportunity — where businesses thrive, partnerships deepen, and innovation reaches new heights. With this vision in mind, I am pleased to announce SIBS 2025 will return to the all-in-one format and will be held in a single week from October 8 to October 11, 2025, at KLCC,” he said.
The appreciation dinner’s guests included state executive councillor for investment, trade, and mobility Ng Sze Han, Selangor State Secretary Dato’ Haris Kasim, State Financial Officer Dato’ Ahmad Fadzli Ahmad Tajuddin, Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporated) or MBI group chief executive officer Saipolyazan M Yusop, Invest Selangor chief executive officer Dato’ Hasan Azhari Idris, ambassadors and representatives from foreign high commissions and embassies, as well as heads of government departments.
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Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporated) or MBI group chief executive officer Saipolyazan M Yusop (second from left) receives the Selangor Smart City and Digital Economy strategic partner appreciation plaque from Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari (second from right), during the Selangor International Business Summit 2024 appreciation night at The Majestic Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, on November 15, 2024. — Picture by HARUN TAJUDIN/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
Building on success
The event served as a platform to showcase success stories from previous SIBS editions. With participation from hundreds of companies across multiple industries, SIBS has been known for its quality exhibitions and conferences that drive economic integration and market access.
As Selangor continues to enhance its reputation as a business-friendly destination, stakeholders are eager to contribute to its growth through active participation in upcoming summits and conventions.
Addressing the 800 attendees, Amirudin assured them that the state government is committed to collaborating closely to maximise the benefits of new technology and stressed efforts to enhance worker productivity and explore ways to boost government efficiency through artificial intelligence innovations.
The approach inspired the launch of the Speed Selangor Policy, which will be rolled out next year. The initiative aims to streamline processes and significantly reduce waiting times for businesses, particularly in obtaining planning permission and business licences following the approval of Certificates for Completion and Compliance (CCC).
“Beginning next year, we aim for local authorities to provide business licences within 24 hours upon ticking all the CCC boxes. Of course, we also have quite ambitious targets in the field of semiconductors, and with a sizable investment for 2025, we aim to attract even more companies from China and Taiwan to call Selangor your new home, especially if you intend to invest in the design phase of integrated circuits.
“These two are just some of the areas we are looking to expand and should be given requisite focus in next year’s SIBS,” he said.
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State executive councillor for investment, trade, and mobility Ng Sze Han delivers his speech during the Selangor International Business Summit 2024 appreciation night, at The Majestic Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, on November 15, 2024. — Picture by HARUN TAJUDIN/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
Meanwhile, Ng expressed his sincere gratitude to those who contributed to SIBS, including participants and exhibitors from the Selangor Investment and Industrial Park Expo (Spark), the Selangor Asean Business Conference (SABC), the Selangor International Expo (F&B) alongside its co-located partner, the Selangor International Halal Convention (Selhac), the Selangor Life Science Convention (SLC), and the Selangor Smart City and Digital Economy (SDEC).
“I would also like to recognise the hosted delegations from the United Kingdom, South Korea, Timor-Leste, Brunei, Indonesia, China, Australia, and many other nations who have travelled here to engage with Asean’s opportunities.
“This year, we are especially honoured to have Thailand as the largest participating country in the Selangor International Expo (F&B), showcasing the strength and unity within Asean and reinforcing Selangor’s role as a gateway to the region,” he said.
Ng reiterated that as the state government looks to the future, Invest Selangor, with strong backing from the state government, will remain committed to actively seeking collaboration opportunities within Malaysia and across Asean.
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(from left to right) Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporated) or MBI group chief executive officer Saipolyazan M Yusop, Invest Selangor Berhad managing director Dato' Hassan Azhari Idris, state executive councillor for investment, trade, and mobility Ng Sze Han, and Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari in conversation during the Selangor International Business Summit 2024 appreciation night at The Majestic Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, on November 15, 2024. — Picture by HARUN TAJUDIN/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
