SHAH ALAM, August 28 — Businesses should view Selangor not only as Malaysia’s most developed state but as the natural gateway to the 680-million-strong Asean market, said Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari.
Speaking at the launch of the ninth Selangor International Business Summit (SIBS) 2025 today, he said the summit comes at a crucial time when conventional trade systems are being disrupted, forcing businesses to adapt to tariffs and shifting supply chains.
Against this backdrop, SIBS remains the best platform for businesses to kickstart their ventures and tap into new opportunities.
“Because from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang to Port Klang, the world’s 11th busiest port, you and your goods arrive in an instant to the new wave of cities in Southeast Asia, like Cebu in the Philippines, Surabaya in Indonesia, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in Cambodia, Chiang Mai in Thailand, Vientiane in Laos, and Timor Leste.
“As a business, that is the opportunity for you to engage and supply your goods, understand the unique local contexts in these areas, and operate from Selangor.
“And there is no better place in the region to do that than at SIBS,” he said in his speech, delivered on his behalf by state executive councillor for investment, trade, and mobility Ng Sze Han, during the event at the Shah Alam Convention Centre.
Amirudin also called on Asean economies to strengthen cooperation and keep trade flowing despite rising instability from global conflicts and the United States’ (US) reciprocal tariffs.
He noted that global trade had shown resilience even during the Covid-19 pandemic, which nearly halted cross-border movement, and expressed confidence that the market would adapt rather than remain overly reliant on a few markets.
“Conventional trade systems have been upended. Countries with deep ties to the US market, particularly small and medium enterprises, have struggled to adapt to tariffs, while Southeast Asia has negotiated more flexible terms. Yet, we cannot take this for granted.
“We cannot wallow and drown in pessimism solely because some months and years feel uncertain. To succeed in a world loaded with landmines, we must be brave and have the steel and courage to think not in two or three years, but the next 20 to 30 years,” Amirudin said.
SIBS 2025, to be held from October 8 to October 11 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, will feature six core components, including the Selangor International F&B Expo, the Selangor Investment and Industrial Park Expo, the Selangor Smart City and Digital Economy Convention, and the Selangor Asean Business Conference.
Two new segments, the Selangor Aerospace Summit (SAS) and the Selangor International Care Summit, will also debut at SIBS this year.
SAS, formerly known as the Selangor Aviation Show, has been placed under SIBS as a strategic move to consolidate the strengths of the state’s key economic sectors.
Last year, SIBS was held over two series for the first time in its history — one in July and another in October — generating RM13.86 billion in potential transactions.
Organised by Invest Selangor Bhd, SIBS 2025 is expected to draw international exhibitors, government agencies, and business leaders from across the region.
