This globinar by Global Chamber® focused on the business environment and trade opportunities in Malaysia. The speakers discussed various aspects of doing business in Malaysia, including its ease of setting up a business, real estate market, attractiveness for foreign investment and its role as a manufacturing hub. The conversation ended with an emphasis on the team's commitment to facilitating connections between Malaysia and the world.
Ben discussed the importance of the US as a trading partner for Malaysia, noting that it has consistently been among the top three export and import destinations. He highlighted the diverse range of quality products and services Malaysia offers, as well as its transparent and fair trading regulations. He also mentioned the shift from an agriculture-based economy to a manufacturing-based one, which has led to Malaysia being a net exporting country since the early 1970's. He emphasized the pro-business government policies in place to support the expansion of industries.
Irvin also discussed the new industrial master plan (NMP) for Malaysia, which aims to provide a clear strategic direction for industry development and guide investors on the country's expansion direction. He highlighted five priority sectors, including the Relation National Semiconductor Strategy, which focuses on nurturing the semiconductor industry in Malaysia. Ben mentioned the National Trade Blueprint and the potential for bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements (FDAs) to support trade activities. He noted the participation of Malaysian companies in international events like the Semicon West and the Malaysia International Halal Showcase. Lastly, he mentioned the use of technology for online business matchmaking to facilitate connections between Malaysian and US companies.
Irvin Francis, the Trade Commissioner for Malaysia, announced that Malaysia will be participating in the Osaka Expo 2025 from April 13th to October 13th, 2025. He also mentioned that Malaysia International Hall will showcase over 1,000 exhibitors, focusing on halal products and services, and that buyers from around the world will be invited to the event. Irvin also mentioned that Mihas will be held in Shanghai for the first time in 2025. He encouraged anyone interested in these events to contact him for further details. Germain Thomas, the founder and director of Aseanz, discussed the ease of setting up a business in Malaysia. He advised potential investors to visit the country and attend international exhibitions to gain a better understanding of the industries and opportunities available. Germain highlighted Malaysia's good education system, skilled labor, and access to utilities and infrastructure as key advantages for businesses. He also mentioned his involvement in various industries, including construction, building materials, manufacturing, and healthcare, primarily with European countries.
Check out the full recording HERE.
Speakers:
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Louis Lau - Founder & Director of Vohrum Group Sdn. Bhd.
Louis Lau co-founded Vohrum in 2023, focusing on product development, engineering, and product actualization for clients. As the leader of Vohrum, he is committed to the vision of "Collaborate, Design, Manufacture," driving innovation and excellence in the industry. Vohrum's capabilities extends to industrial design, engineering design, research & development, injection moulding, wire harness, SMT/PCBA, modular and full-box-build assembly focusing on a diverse range of industry including automotive, internet-of-things, medical devices, sporting equipment, industrial products, new energy and consumer electronics.
Born in a little town called Sibu in Sarawak, Louis graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from University of Western Australia in 2007. Louis is an accomplished professional with a robust background in finance, private equity & venture capital, engineering & manufacturing industry and entrepreneurship.
Prior to this, via a management buyout, in 2015, he joined a listed plastic injection moulding company as Head of Group Strategy & Monitoring and sat on various subsidiaries Board. During his tenure, he has served in various capacity including Executive Director, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company group. The Company has transformed into a multi sites contract manufacturing company, growing from revenue of approx USD 18 mil in 2015 to more than USD 65 mil in 2024 with a corresponding growth of market capitalisation from approx USD 10 mil to USD110 mil.
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Irvin Francis (Ben) - Trade Commissioner, MATRADE Los Angeles
Irvin assumed the role of Trade Commissioner for MATRADE Los Angeles effective July 1st, 2023. He has served the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) for 12 years in various capacities. He was previously based in MATRADE Manila, Philippines as the Assistant Trade Commissioner from July 1st, 2018 to August 31st, 2021.
During his term in MATRADE HQ in Kuala Lumpur, Irvin has been in the frontline of MATRADE under the Export Promotion and Market Access Division, specifically in the Oil & Gas, Chemical and Energy Section, South Asia Section as well as Halal, Food & Beverages and Agro-based Section.
Germain Thomas - Founder & Director, Asiance Sdn Bhd
Originally from France, Germain has business degrees from universities in both France and Taiwan and has worked as an executive in the construction, building materials and facilities management sectors. Germain is the regional Sales Director for the Swiss company Conica AG and also country representative for the OSCI Federation, while also a Foreign Trade Advisor to the French embassy in Kuala Lumpur and a Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce (MICCI) Executive Committee member.
Germain's consulting firm, Asiance Sdn Bhd, part of the Asian Insiders' network, provides market entry and business development services to western companies seeking expert support into Malaysia and the Philippines. He was awarded in 2023 as one of the top 100 business leaders in Malaysia to follow on LinkedIn.
Christophe Vicic - Chief Growth Officer, JLL Malaysia
Christophe is an experience corporate professional with MNC’s. He has held both CEO/Managing Director and COO positions and holds a wealth of multi-cultural experience having worked and lived in several continents. He is particularly accomplished in growth & development strategies, technologies enhancement, M&A, capital investment, processes, and efficiencies improvement.
His last 15 years in real estate with JLL, he has contributed to commercial, operational, and digital transformation.
Before starting his role in JLL Malaysia, he has served as the Country Head of JLL Philippines from 2017 -2021 and as COO for JLL Russia and CIS based in Moscow from 2009 - 2016.
In his spare time, he enjoys jogging, sailing, golfing and he is an accomplished marathon runner having completed 20+ races.
Julian Searle - Chief Development Officer - The Ocean Cleanup
In his career Julian has provided consistent high-performance sales of multi-year, multi-million dollar solutions to C-level audiences in the Consumer Electronics, Clean Energy, Novel Semiconductor, Life Sciences, Aerospace and Defense and Telecommunications market segments. Julian was a founding member of SVTC Technologies and Novati Technologies where he helped develop and establish a revolutionary first of a kind advanced technology service model developing over $300M in business over an 8 year horizon and a grass roots first of a kind business model. Julian has pioneered and co-created commercial strategies business plans and technical service business units, resulting in over $2B of liquidity events via successful acquisition, IPO and mergers.
Currently Julian is the Chief Development Officer at The Ocean Cleanup where he is responsible for driving a $10B mission forward and creating sustainable funding models for a global scale up to rid the worlds oceans of plastic.
Previously at SCRG, as Chief Commercial Officer, Julian is responsible for global sales and is driving the company turnaround from a negative position to a profitable business that has been achieving over 30% growth year over year for several years. In addition to implementing a strategic consultative sales process Julian is helping to drive a first of it’s kind set of initiatives in the global supply chain space to fragment supply chains and provide tangible benefits to companies ranging from multi billion-dollar corporations to startups.
In his role at SVTC and Novati Technologies Julian pioneered the early market penetration and regional business development in Europe and East Coast US business units, leading a team of sales executives focused on multi-tiered strategic sales plans.
Recognizing a demand for manufacturing solutions Julian created initial foundry alliances in Taiwan and the USA to provide scalable solutions to commercialize technology via an “asset-light” economic method with a first in industry focus on time to market for the emerging Silicon-based technology ecosystem.
Raised and educated at a leading International Boarding school in the UK, Julian travelled the globe before moving to California at the age of 18. Following a 16year stretch in Silicon Valley Julian moved to Austin Texas with 4 children and an amazing wife.
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