By Danial Dzulkifly
KUALA LUMPUR, March 26 — Malaysia will host the inaugural Asean Investment Conference (AIC) 2025 next month, gathering policymakers, investors, and business leaders to strengthen regional connectivity and position Asean as a key investment hub amid global uncertainties and trade tensions.
The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC), in collaboration with Affin Group, CGS International Securities Malaysia, and RHB Banking Group, will organise the two-day event at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from April 8 to 9.
SC managing director Datin Paduka Azalina Adam said the AIC aims to showcase Asean’s economic potential and establish the region as a dynamic and sustainable investment destination.
“Asean is home to over 600 million people, making it one of the youngest regions in the world. It also has a high savings-to-GDP (gross domestic product) ratio, signifying strong liquidity, and remains one of the fastest-growing regions globally.
“If Asean can position itself as a unified economic entity rather than a collection of individual nations, the potential for growth is immense,” she said during a press briefing at the SC headquarters today.
[caption id="attachment_384118" align="aligncenter" width="1110"]
Malaysia’s 2025 Asean chairmanship logo seen in Wisma Putra, Putrajaya, on October 22, 2024. — Picture by BERNAMA[/caption]
She said the first day would focus on investment opportunities, while the second day would emphasise inclusiveness and sustainability, both key themes of Malaysia’s Asean chairmanship.
“The Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) will deliver the keynote address, and several Asean countries’ finance ministers will also be in attendance.
“There will also be a ministerial panel and a range of distinguished speakers, including regulators, policymakers, and market players,” she said.
Also present at the briefing were Affin Bank Bhd president and group chief executive officer Datuk Wan Razly Abdullah, RHB Investment Bank chief executive officer and managing director Kevin Davies, and CGS International Securities Malaysia deputy chief executive officer Khari Shahrin Arief Baki.
Azalina said the AIC would also introduce several key initiatives, including the launch of the Simplified ESG Guide for SMEs in Supply Chains under the Asean Capital Market Forum’s inclusiveness agenda.
“CGS will also launch an investment challenge for university students to familiarise them with capital markets. Additionally, we will announce an initiative related to fractional trading, which the Prime Minister mentioned before,” she said, referring to Anwar’s 2023 announcement on allowing smaller share lots and fractional shares to revitalise Malaysia’s capital market.
The conference is expected to draw around 400 attendees, including Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, Singaporean Transport Minister and Second Finance Minister Chee Hong Tat, and Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
