Events

BEIJING: On 26th June, China International Capital Corporation (“CICC”), successfully held the 2nd China-Southeast Asia Economic and Finance Forum in Singapore. This one-day forum brought together hundreds of government officials, investors, corporate representatives across China and ASEAN to discuss opportunities and challenges in deepening economic and financial cooperation in the regions. In the opening speech, Mr. Wang Shuguang, Member of the CICC Management Committee and Head of the Investment Banking Department, presented the business strength of CICC and highlighted CICC’s vision of China-Southeast Asia cooperation in the capital market. “We see significant opportunities in private fundraising for local unicorns and fast-growing start-ups, as well as a rise in cross-border investments from Chinese companies, particularly in sectors such as consumer, TMT, fintech, logistics and EV in Southeast Asia.” Wang said that CICC will further increase its investment and commitment in Southeast Asia in the future. In another speech, Mr. Stephen Ng, Head of CICC Southeast Asia and South Asia and CEO of CICC Singapore, noted that as the economies of Southeast Asian countries experience rapid development, numerous opportunities are emerging. He emphasized that by embracing the principles of collaboration, learning, and growth, we can collectively work towards building a more inclusive, innovative, and sustainable future for all. At the forum, more than 60 experts and CICC representatives shared profound observations and insightful views both from China and ASEAN perspective, covering areas, such as macroeconomics, global and regional policies, investment strategies, industry and financial market trends, as well as business dynamics. These insights brought meaningful value to the decision makings and business strategies for the diverse audience. Topics at the Forum included “China Macro & Investment Outlook”, “Enhancing Capital Markets Connectivity in the Region”, “China EV Value Chain and Internationalization”, “Energy Transition and Green Finance”, “Consumer Trend in China and Southeast Asia“, “The Significance of China Southeast Asia Cooperation in the Healthcare Industry”, “Opportunities and Challenges: Towards a Sustainable Asia REITs Ecosystem”, “Asian Credit Markets: Impact of Higher Interest Rates and Tighter Financial Conditions”, “The Development of the AI Industry in China“, amongst others. CICC and industry experts also held parallel sub-forums and side meetings, providing attendees with valuable opportunities for face-to-face communication and networking. The Forum aimed to expand CICC’s business influence in Southeast Asia and to support the Company in seizing opportunities arising from accelerating cross-border capital flows between China and Southeast Asia. By growing its business activities in Southeast Asia, CICC will continue strengthening its dialogues with public sectors, enterprises, financial institutions and think tanks within the region, promoting international capital market cooperation, and facilitating cross-border capital flows in the region. About China International Capital Corporation Limited (CICC): China International Capital Corporation Limited (CICC) was founded in 1995. Our extensive network and cross-border business practices have enabled us to offer high-quality, value-added financial services to a diversified client base. This includes a full-service and balanced business model that offers investment banking, equities, FICC (Fixed Income, Currencies and Commodities), asset management, private equity and wealth management services, all of which draw on our comprehensive research and technology capability. Headquartered in Beijing, the Group has over 200 securities business offices in China, and established subsidiaries or branches in seven international financial centers, including Hong Kong of the PRC, New York, London, Singapore, San Francisco, Frankfurt and Tokyo. As an investment bank with Chinese roots and an international reach, we are committed to providing first-rate financial services to both our Chinese and global clients to help them achieve their goals.

KUALA LUMPUR: Asia’s leading architecture business event will reconvene at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from 3-6 July. Organised in conjunction with the Kuala Lumpur Architecture Festival (KLAF), ARCHIDEX will bring together top industry professionals and leading brands to shape a sustainable future in architecture. With less than a month to go, ARCHIDEX is set to be the largest and most influential edition yet, expecting to welcome close to 700 exhibitors and an anticipated 40,000 visitors from 100 countries. As an integral part of the annual KLAF, jointly organised with the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM), ARCHIDEX aims to modernise the industry and nudge the eco-system to leverage next-gen technology towards creating sustainable infrastructure and the built environment. It will bring together top industry professionals to explore the dynamic intersection of design technology and environmental stewardship. This year, ARCHIDEX will power the transformative potential of trailblazing technologies that can drive industry growth and create infrastructure and a built environment that is sustainable and community-driven. ARCHIDEX also captures the confident optimism the nation possesses, driving creative solutions and regional cooperation as the government embarks on an initiative to modernise the infrastructure and built environment. These initiatives emphasise innovative and nature-inspired materials, digital technologies, construction processes and design strategies that prioritise net-zero energy buildings and carbon-neutral developments. ARCHIDEX will feature six dedicated pavilions from Austria, China, Germany, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan, fostering collaboration and signifying opportunities for bilateral trade and business transactions. By hosting these international pavilions, ARCHIDEX positions Malaysia as a central hub for sourcing advanced and specialised technologies within the architecture and construction sphere, eliminating the need for regional professionals to travel overseas and creating a convenient platform for sourcing the expertise of leading international brands. This year’s exhibition emphasises the role of AI in transforming the architecture and construction industries. A highlight of ARCHIDEX is its design installations, renowned for their engaging spatial experiences for architects, designers, and visitors. These installations showcase exceptional craftsmanship, demonstrating how architects and designers push creative boundaries, challenge conventions, and collaborate with exhibitors to highlight their materials and solutions. This year, in a nod to Malaysia’s culture and heritage, ARCHIDEX will host an installation featuring bamboo, a versatile and sustainable material, inviting visitors to explore Malaysia’s ecosystems and reconnect with nature. Recognising the vital role that young architects and designers play in shaping the built environment, ARCHIDEX 2024 features programmes such as the ARCAsia Committee for Young Architects (ACYA) to nurture young architects, and the Asian Young Architects Programme, which provides a unique opportunity for ten promising young architects from ten different Asian countries to exhibit their work. Additionally, the event will host a full-day forum and networking “Teh Tarik” session, for practising architects. Student architects will also be highlighted through ARCHITALENT, with ten finalists chosen from over 40 submissions from 8 countries this year.

SINGAPORE: The Global Data Center Facility Summit 2024 was held in Singapore on 17 May 2024 with the theme of ‘Power the Digital Era Forward’, where over 600 data centre industry leaders, technical experts, and ecosystem partners gathered to discuss new trends and opportunities of the global data centre industry in the intelligent computing era. The attendees also got to experience all-scenario, all-ecosystem, and all-service end-to-end (E2E) solutions, share innovative practices of green data centres in the Asia Pacific and Europe, and experience the exhibition vehicle to unveil the mystery of Outdoor PowerPOD that features one power system per container. In his opening speech, Huawei Senior Vice President, Charles Yang noted that since ChatGPT ushered in the AI era, large models keep pushing the limits of computing power and the intelligent computing industry is witnessing an unprecedented construction boom. As predicted, 100GW will be added to the global data centre installed capacity and the market value will exceed US$600 billion (RM2.82 trillion) in the next 5 years. According to Charles, with opportunities come challenges. The primary challenge concerning the data centre industry is reliability and electricity. Data centres are scaling up from the MW-level to the GW-level. E2E reliability of data centres is becoming even more important than ever. In response to the opportunities, Huawei will work with customers and partners to expand the industry space. Steering Data Centres to the AI Era During the summit, Huawei Data Center Facility & Critical Power Business President, Sun Xiaofeng stated that as AI large models are penetrating, the surging compute demands drive the expansive growth in data centres. To address the challenges, Huawei strives to build product, service and ecosystem E2E data centre solutions that feature fast deployment, flexible cooling, green energy, and ultimate reliability. Currently, Huawei’s global service network covers more than 170 countries with over 1,800 professional engineers, providing 24/7 technical support. With N+ flagship service centres, Huawei has built a one-hour service radius for its customers. The ecosystem is a key part of a win-win future of intelligent computing. Huawei works with partners to develop comprehensive E2E solutions and provide customers with one-stop data centre services. During the summit, Huawei and the ASEAN Centre for Energy released a white paper on ‘Building Next Generation Data Centre Facility in ASEAN’, providing insights into the status quo, challenges, and trends of data centres in the ASEAN region and emphasising that efficient and energy-saving products and solutions should be applied. It also proposes future-oriented policy recommendations for data centre markets. In the ecosystem exhibition area, Huawei showcased scenario-based solutions for large-, medium-, and small-sized data centres, and demonstrated data centre consulting, design, integrated development, and delivery capabilities with dozens of ecosystem partners including CIMC, Weichai, CSCEC, and Huashi.

KUALA LUMPUR: HARTA (HABIB: Action for the Revival of our Traditions and Arts) is proud to present its inaugural photographic exhibition, “Sacred Currents” by SC Shekar, one of Malaysia’s most esteemed and award-winning photographers. Running until June 2, 2024, at HARTA, “Sacred Currents” is a long-awaited documentation of Malaysia’s numerous rivers and riverine habitats, which have sustained countless generations. The exhibition features 30 breathtaking black-and-white photographs taken from a helicopter, showcasing the stunning beauty and intricate ecosystems of Malaysia’s rivers. Spanning the entire Peninsular Malaysia, as well as Sabah and Sarawak, these images powerfully highlight the fragile existence of our rivers amid the nation’s pursuit of progress. The stories behind these works warn of a bleak future for our children and future generations unless we act now to change our attitudes and decisions regarding these vital waterways. “’Sacred Currents’ captures beautiful yet fleeting moments of Malaysia’s winding rivers, now threatened by pollution and our unsustainable lifestyles,” said Mirsham Meer, the Director of HARTA. “These photographs underscore the urgent and deliberate efforts needed to protect our ecosystem for the future. We hope these mesmerizing yet meaningful images resonate deeply with viewers,” Mirsham added. SC Shekar’s “Sacred Currents” is both a tribute to the majesty of these sacred rivers and a clarion call for a shift in our values towards a harmonious and symbiotic relationship with nature. The exhibition was inaugurated by His Highness Tunku Ali Redhauddin ibni Tuanku Muhriz, Tunku Besar Seri Menanti of Negeri Sembilan, in the presence of international diplomats, special guests, and media representatives.   In conjunction with the exhibition, an outreach program invites schools in the Klang Valley to bring students on educational explorations of Malaysia’s rivers. This initiative aims to raise awareness, educate, and inspire the next generation to understand the importance of protecting our waterways and to rekindle the connection between people and their rivers.  

The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) is hosting its annual investor education fair, Bersama InvestSmart® @Johor 2024, this weekend at the Mid Valley Exhibition Centre, Mid Valley SouthKey mall in Johor Bahru. The three-day event aims to empower investors with essential knowledge, promoting financial literacy and informed investment decisions while safeguarding against scams and illegal schemes. YB Lee Ting Han, Johor State Executive Council Member and Chairman of Investment, Trade, Consumer Affairs and Human Resources Committee, inaugurated the event. Attendees included senior state government officials and leaders from the capital market and financial industries. Themed ‘Bijak Labur Hidup Makmur’, the event features 38 exhibitors, including financial and capital market firms, industry associations, and agencies such as the Employees Provident Fund and the Inland Revenue Board. Over 11,000 visitors are expected, who will benefit from public talks and panel discussions by financial and capital market experts. In addition, the #FinPlan4u® initiative offers more than 230 free one-on-one financial planning sessions, providing personalized guidance on financial goals and retirement planning from licensed financial planners. SC Chairman Dato’ Seri Dr. Awang Adek Hussin highlighted Johor as an ideal location for this year’s event, following successful editions in Penang, Sarawak, and Sabah. He noted Johor’s significant achievements, including RM113.7 billion in investments and 35,000 new jobs over two years, as announced by the Menteri Besar of Johor, YAB Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi. “This event will contribute to the state’s and its residents’ prosperity, emphasizing the importance of wise investment at the individual level,” said Dato’ Seri Dr. Awang Adek. He also warned against scams that misuse the “syariah-compliant” label or involve influencers to appear legitimate, urging investors to verify such claims. The SC’s Investors’ Survey revealed that 30% of respondents are prone to scams, particularly vulnerable groups relying on unverified information from family and friends. Recognizing this issue, the SC launched the Investment Checker on its website, a tool for verifying the legitimacy of investment entities. Since its introduction, the Investment Checker has become one of the SC’s most visited pages, with over 25,000 visits. Following Bersama InvestSmart® @Johor, the SC will host the NaviGate Capital Market Green Financing Series on 20 May 2024 in Iskandar Puteri, supported by Iskandar Investment Berhad. This program will explore alternative capital market financing, including equity crowdfunding (ECF) and peer-to-peer (P2P) financing, featuring MSMEs sharing their fundraising experiences. For more information on InvestSmart®, including details about Bersama InvestSmart® @Johor 2024, please visit [InvestSmart’s website](https://investsmartsc.my/) or follow InvestSmart® on social media.