Kuala Lumpur, 25 November 2025 — Tengku Permaisuri Hajah Norashikin, Tengku Permaisuri Selangor today launched the inaugural WE2025: Future in Motion | Women in Trade · Investment · Leadership at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC). The three day flagship event is dedicated to elevating women’s participation in leadership, trade and innovation across ASEAN.
Bringing together 10,000 visitors, 150 exhibitors, 1,000 conference delegates, and more than 80 speakers across the Leadership Conference and 15 satellite events, WE2025 positions Malaysia at the forefront of ASEAN’s inclusive growth agenda.
Anchored in five pillars — Women Economics, Empowerment, Entrepreneurship, Excellence and Evolution — WE2025 redefines economic leadership through inclusion, sustainability and innovation.
According to Khazanah Research Institute (2024), women now surpass men in higher education with a Malaysia Gender Gap Index score of 1.071, and represent 56.2% of the national labour force, including 83.2% of female graduates. Yet women occupy only 25.4% of managerial positions and lead 20.3% of registered enterprises — a gap WE2025 seeks to bridge through collaboration, policy dialogue, and investment.
“Women’s leadership remains a strategic necessity. The 13th Malaysian Plan (RMK13) seeks to close this leadership gap through policies that advance women at all levels of decision-making in government, GLCs, boardrooms, STEM sectors and beyond. Malaysia’s future depends on unlocking the full potential of all Malaysians—women must be equipped and empowered to lead. WE2025 amplifies this commitment to economic empowerment and leadership as a national agenda.”
“Through the Leadership Conference, Trade Exposition, business-matching platform and 15 satellite events, we aim to spark partnerships, fresh ideas and meaningful opportunities, because real progress happens when we move forward together,” added Richard Teo.
The Opening Ceremony was graced by distinguished leaders including H.E. Atifete Jahjaga, Former President of Kosovo; Encik Abu Bakar Yusof, Deputy CEO (Export Acceleration), MATRADE; Dr. Satish Ranggayah, International Relations Division Undersecretary, KPWKM; and Jessie Tan, Managing Director, Qube Integrated.
MoU Exchange Marks a Key Milestone for Regional Women’s Economic Cooperation
The MoU establishes the BRICS Women Business Alliance Regional Office in Malaysia, enhancing Malaysia’s role as a strategic hub for women-led economic cooperation with BRICS member countries.
Her Royal Highness later toured the Trade Expo and visited the KPWKM women-led micro-enterprises at the WE2025 Marketplace, sponsored by Printdaddy Sdn Bhd.
Leadership, Policy, and Innovation on the Global Stage
The opening ceremony preceded with the Leadership Conference, convening policymakers, corporate trailblazers and thought leaders for two days of dialogue on governance, economic resilience, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics and Mindsets (STEAMM) and the future of work.
Day One highlights included:
- In Conversation with H.E. Atifete Jahjaga, President of Kosovo from 2011–2016, moderated by Khairy Jamaluddin, on inclusive leadership in post-conflict democracies.
- Leadership Session 1 with H.E. Retno L.P. Marsudi, former Indonesia Foreign Minister; H.E. Anne Vasara, Finland Ambassador to Malysia; Tan Sri Prof. Dr. Noorul Ainur Mohd. Nur, Chairman of UCYP University; and The Hon. Howard Lee Chuan How, Ipoh Timor MP on trust and governance
- In Conversation with Datuk Seri Hj. Hasnol Zam Zam Bin Ahmad, Secretary-General of MOSTI on innovation and the digital frontier.
- Leadership Session 2 featuring Professor Dr. Rofina Yasmin Othman (MRANTI Chairman), Dr. Amani Salim Chief Technology Officer of nanoSkunkWorkX, and Ravenna Chen (Intrinsic SEA CEO) discussing the region’s future STEAMM-driven workforce.
The discussions underscored the importance of inclusive leadership, ethical AI adoption and cross-sector collaboration in shaping a resilient regional workforce.
A Partnership-Driven Ecosystem for Inclusive Growth
WE2025 is organised by Qube Integrated Malaysia, in collaboration with the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM), and supported by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), MATRADE, the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), strategic venue partner MITEC, and corporate sponsor Berjaya Food Berhad.
Its strategic partners include Intrinsic SEA, NCWO, Printdaddy, Peniagawati Malaysia, ACCCIM, MCMTC, FMM, MICCI, MCCC, Wanita SAMENTA, The MIND Academy, WISTA Malaysia, Yingke Malaysia, Invest Penang, NAWEM, as well as media partners Bernama and Ekonomi Rakyat.
Trade Exposition, Business Matching & Satellite Events
The three-day Trade Exposition features over 150 exhibitors spanning women-led enterprises, government and social support initiatives, creative economy brands, technology and innovation companies, corporate showcases, tourism, wellness and micro-entrepreneurs, from Malaysia, China, Singapore, Middle East, Canada and Japan.
It is supported by WE in Exchange, the structured business-matching platform connecting entrepreneurs, investors and decision-makers for tangible commercial outcomes.
WE2025 also hosts 15 satellite events, including the ASEAN Technology Cooperation and Development Summit (Intrinsic SEA), Women in Shipping and Maritime Forum (WISTA), Power Women Summit (The MIND Academy), Strong Outside, Struggling Inside: The Reality of Men in Leadership (MyMasterMan), and business dialogues by Kosovo and Bhutan — all designed to deepen collaboration and promote sustainable regional growth.
WE2025: Future in Motion runs from 25–27 November 2025 at MITEC, Kuala Lumpur.
