Over 20 business chambers from ASEAN, China, Japan and beyond gather in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur played host to the ASEAN & Beyond: Young Entrepreneurs Dialogue 2025, a landmark event uniting more than 20 business chambers and associations from ASEAN member states, China, Japan, and regional partners. Organised by the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM), the gathering underscored the importance of cross-border collaboration, innovation, and resilience in a rapidly changing global trade landscape.
The event was officiated by Yang Berhormat Steven Sim Chee Keong, Minister of Human Resources of Malaysia, whose presence affirmed the government’s strong commitment to empowering youth and strengthening regional cooperation. In his remarks, Datuk Ng Yih Pyng, President of ACCCIM, emphasised that the Dialogue is not only a platform for exchanging ideas, but also a catalyst for new opportunities in connectivity, talent development, and market expansion.
Key highlights of the Dialogue included the signing of multiple Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between young entrepreneur committees and chambers across ASEAN+3, marking a tangible step towards deeper collaboration. These agreements aim to promote knowledge sharing, digital transformation, supply chain diversification, and business matching initiatives, while strengthening mentorship networks for emerging leaders.
The Dialogue also addressed pressing global economic challenges, including shifting trade dynamics and tariff pressures, while highlighting opportunities under agreements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Speakers urged young entrepreneurs to adopt strategies that enhance sustainability, embrace digitalisation, and maximise ASEAN’s collective strengths as a neutral, integrated market of over 660 million people with a combined GDP exceeding US$3.8 trillion.
As Mr Lee Toong Leon, Chairman of the ACCCIM Young Entrepreneurs Committee, noted, the Dialogue is “not an end, but a beginning”—a spark to ignite long-term partnerships, cultural exchange, and regional progress.
The ASEAN & Beyond: Young Entrepreneurs Dialogue 2025 concluded with a shared vision: to equip the region’s youth with the tools, networks, and opportunities they need to become inclusive, forward-looking leaders, capable of shaping a resilient and sustainable ASEAN and beyond.
