• 2026 — April issue

‣ President’s Statement

‣ Editorial

‣ Feature: Malaysia Chamber of Commerce Indonesia (MCCI) and the Growing Business Opportunities in Indonesia

‣ Diary of Events

‣ 28 January 2026
MASSA-Kolaxus-MAJECA iDeas Xchange #5 at STEG Hotel Kuala Lumpur

‣ 5 February 2026
South Africa-Malaysia Trade, Investment Seminar and Business Matching Session at Holiday Inn Express Kuala Lumpur

‣ Forthcoming Events

Greetings from MASSA !

In this April newsletter, we are most pleased to feature a submission from Mr Mani Wannan Letchumanan, President of Malaysia Chambers of Commerce Indonesia (MCCI), introducing the Malaysia Chambers of Commerce Indonesia (MCCI) and sharing insights into the growing business opportunities in Indonesia. Readers can expect insights into Indonesia’s New Economic Outlook, Indonesia’s priority strategic sectors, and incentives. Also included is an introduction to Danantara Indonesia, a government-linked investment platform designed to facilitate large-scale strategic investments into nation-building sectors, including industrial parks & manufacturing, downstreaming, transport & logistics infrastructure, urban & strategic infrastructure, energy & renewable infrastructure and digital & data infrastructure.

In this Newsletter, we also report on the 5th edition of the iDeas Xchange, a startup meetup and sharing session series jointly organised by MASSA, Kolaxus and the Malaysia-Japan Economic Association (MAJECA) with the aim to provide a platform and occasion for startup entrepreneurs and corporates and businesspeople to meet. The fifth edition of iDeas Xchange was organised on 28 January 2026 with the support of FGV Holdings Berhad and the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) at STEG Hotel Kuala Lumpur with the theme of Agriculture Innovation. 100 participants attended this event.

Additionally, MASSA was invited to attend a South Africa – Malaysia Trade, Investment Seminar and Business Matching Session held on 5 February 2026 at Holiday Inn Express Kuala Lumpur, organised by the South African High Commission in Malaysia, in collaboration with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), South Africa. This Seminar was in conjunction with a South Africa Trade Mission to Malaysia. The delegation comprising 22 companies was led by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), South Africa. The delegation comprise food and beverage, cosmetics and wellness, wines, defence, and military equipment sectors.

We are pleased to share that several forthcoming events are in the works. One to look out for is the Sixth Edition of iDeas Xchange which will be held in June 2026. Do keep an eye out for our weekly Circulars and postings in our website www.massa.net.my. MASSA is also keen to organise events & sharing sessions to highlight various markets, including Indonesia, Timor-Leste and more.

Finally, we want to thank our members, ex-officio, contributors, and partners for your support to date. MASSA is pleased to continue to share with members, trade and investment insights on, for and from the South-South developing countries and emerging markets, and on emerging trends and topics that may be of interest to business.

We look forward to meet members at MASSA’s upcoming events.

Ng Su Fun

Editorial MASSA

President’s Message

I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the Malaysia South-South Association (MASSA) for the opportunity to share about the Malaysia Chamber of Commerce Indonesia (MCCI) and the growing business opportunities in Indonesia.

MCCI operates under the esteemed patronage of H.E. the Ambassador of Malaysia to the Republic of Indonesia. Formerly known as Malaysia Club Jakarta, we were rebranded in 2024 to better reflect our mission of representing and advancing the interests of Malaysian businesses across Indonesia. Today, MCCI serves as a dynamic platform dedicated to supporting Malaysian companies in their journey to establish, expand, and succeed in Indonesia.

Regionally, MCCI is part of the Malaysia ASEAN Business Chambers network, connecting Malaysian business communities across Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Within Indonesia, we are actively collaborating with the Singapore, Thai, and Philippines Chambers, alongside Indonesian national chambers, to establish the ASEAN Business Chambers of Indonesia. This initiative will further broaden opportunities and regional integration for our members across ASEAN.

At the heart of MCCI is our commitment to building meaningful connections. Through our monthly networking platform, ASEAN Vibes@Jakarta, and our signature Teh Tarik Talk—a business forum that brings people together over the familiarity of nasi lemak and teh tarik—we create spaces where relationships are built and opportunities are unlocked. Complementing this, our MCCI Business Support Services are designed to assist Malaysian companies in navigating the Indonesian market seamlessly and effectively.

I warmly invite MASSA members to engage with MCCI and participate in our upcoming programmes, particularly the Indonesia ASEAN Business Chambers Summit in July 2026. We believe this will serve as a valuable platform to explore partnerships, deepen regional collaboration, and unlock new growth opportunities in Indonesia and beyond.

We look forward to welcoming you to Indonesia and building stronger bridges together.

Mani Wannan Letchumanan
President
Email: mani@malaysiachambers.id
Mobile: +6281807976369

You may click on the following link to read more:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/10BNVvhG_qVYtsSZFr4rP3T6nRJceLX7Y/view?usp=sharing

Tan Sri Azman Hashim
President
MASSA 

Malaysia closed 2025 on a strong footing, demonstrating resilience amid a challenging global backdrop. Bank Negara reported GDP growth of 5.2% in 2025, driven by robust household consumption and expanding exports, notably in electrical and electronics. Other key economic highlights for Malaysia include headline inflation which averaged a modest 1.4% (its lowest in five years), reflecting stable domestic demand. Private-sector lending remained healthy where total credit grew about 5.4%, with financing to SMEs up 5.9%. Investment approvals stood at over RM426 billion approved in 2025 were strong and unemployment was around 2.9%.

The year ahead in 2026 will be marred by the volatility and ramifications of the intensifying conflict in the Middle East. Its effects are rippling through the global economy. Oil prices have spiked leading to energy crises, shipping through critical routes like the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, and uncertainty has pushed up logistics costs. These developments carry immediate and structural risks. Higher energy costs feed directly into domestic inflation and production expenses. Malaysia being an open trading nation is also not spared.

As Malaysia navigates this year, growth drivers for Malaysia may optimistically include private consumption, robust investment (especially in technology and infrastructure), and continued expansion in our E&E sector. Further, global demand for semiconductors and AI-related technologies should remain very strong and Malaysia’s role in those supply chains is well-positioned for growth. Sustaining investment momentum, managing arising cost pressures and endeavours toward market diversification to hedge risks and to build supply chain resilience will be important.

Malaysia’s strong fundamentals provide some resilience, in times of economic and geopolitical shocks. We must be agile to face these challenges and build buffers against risks that could undermine confidence and business continuity.

In this context, MASSA’s mission to bridge Malaysia with the South-South developing markets remains relevant. Timor-Leste’s accession as ASEAN’s 11th member is a major milestone for regional integration and MASSA will be exploring the many business and investment prospects there, as well as with our partners across the South-South network.

I am pleased to share that the iDeas Xchange event series platform, a joint collaboration with MAJECA (Malaysia–Japan Economic Association) and Kolaxus, continues to be well received. This programme will continue into 2026, to spotlight Malaysia’s vibrant start-up ecosystem and catalyse collaboration between our members, the greater business community and tech entrepreneurs. I encourage all members to leverage iDeas Xchange to engage with innovators and collaborate to scale homegrown business and to bring them to the South–South markets.

On behalf of MASSA, I extend my thanks to all members, our Executive Committee, Ex-Officio representatives from government ministries and agencies, and our sponsors for your continued support and participation. Your active participation & contributions at our events and in our newsletters have been invaluable. I would also like to acknowledge the insightful articles shared in 2025. These inputs are enriching and help drive mutual learning.

Let us move forward to face these tempestuous times with the spirit of pragmatic cross-border collaboration with our South-South partners as we cultivate trust and build sustaining partnerships.

Tan Sri Azman Hashim
President
13 April 2026

The 5th iDeas Xchange was jointly organised by the Malaysia South-South Association (MASSA) and the Malaysia-Japan Economic Association (MAJECA) and with Kolaxus, led by its CEO, Mr Sivavenayakam Velayutham, Executive Committee Member of MAJECA & MASSA on 28 January 2026 at STEG Hotel Kuala Lumpur with the support of FGV Holdings Berhad and the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC).

Cognisant of the shared, and rising sentiment for corporate-startup convergence & partnership, for innovation, growth, collaboration, and exchange, the iDeas Xchange Series aims to facilitate and encourage networking, interactions, tie-ups and catalytic partnerships between corporate Malaysia and the Malaysian startup ecosystem.

A total of 100 participants comprising members of MASSA & MAJECA, the corporate business community, Government agencies, academia and the members of the startup ecosystem were present.

Mr Emes Mukhris bin Mohd Mokhtar, Officer-in-Charge,
Group Chief Strategy Officer, FGV Holdings Berhad delivered the Welcome Remarks.

Ts. Navin Sinnathamby, Head of Department, Digital Agriculture Technology (AgTech) Department, Digital Adoption Division, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) delivered the Opening Remarks.

Mr Sivavenayakam Velayutham, CEO, Kolaxus and Executive Committee Member, Malaysia-Japan Economic Association (MAJECA) &
Malaysia South-South Association (MASSA)
delivered the kick-off remarks and moderated the Startup Sharing Session.

The following four speakers, identified by MDEC under the theme of Agriculture Innovation, shared on their respective businesses moderated by Mr Sivavenayakam Velayutham, CEO, Kolaxus and Executive Committee Member of Malaysia-Japan Economic Association (MAJECA) & Malaysia South-South Association (MASSA):

Mr Tan Han Wei, Managing Director, Sustainable Hrvest Sdn Bhd

Mr Sreeram Bolisetti, Chief Technology Offier, Idealogic Technologies Sdn Bhd

Mr Whan Mugilan, Chief Executive Officer, Vessel Pro Sdn Bhd

Mr Azaini Azat Abdul Jalil, Chief Executive Officer, Flow Studios Sdn Bhd

Ir. Ts. Dr. Gideon Tan Xiang Yee, Head of Group Transformation,
FGV Holdings Berhad delivered a Presentation.

Datuk Merlyn Kasimir, Vice-President, MASSA
delivered the Closing Remarks.

Photo Gallery

On behalf of the organisers, MASSA thanks FGV for hosting the 5th iDeas Xchange at STEG Hotel Kuala Lumpur.

Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, H.E. Dr. Muhammad Yunus led a delegation comprising high level government officials and private sector business leaders from Bangladesh to Malaysia. The visit was at the invitation of Prime Minister of Malaysia, YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim.

A seminar on Investment Opportunities between Bangladesh and Malaysia was organized by the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) on 12 August 2025, Tuesday at Shangri La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

MASSA was represented by Datuk Merlyn Kasimir, Vice-President and Ms Ng Su Fun, Executive Secretary.

BIDA gave a presentation on the prospects of doing business in Bangladesh 2.0: Gateway to Growth. Mr Vivek Sood, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Axiata Group shared Axiata’s investment journey in Bangladesh.

The meeting was informed of a number of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) signed during the visit. These included MOUs between MIMOS Services Sdn Bhd and the Bangladesh-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BMCCI), as well as between the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (NCCIM) and the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI). Dato’ Seri N Gobalakrishnan, President of NCCIM and Mr Rahman, Administrator of FBCCI gave their remarks at the seminar.

H.E. Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser to the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, graced the seminar as the Chief Guest and delivered his address.

H.E. Dr. Muhammad Yunus welcomed Malaysians to look at Bangladesh as an investment destination, given the sizeable population who are young and talented. Bangladesh is a nation with a lot of energy and creativity with big aspirations to integrate into the global chains for industry and commerce.

For your further reading:

1. 1. TheStar – Malaysia, Bangladesh ink eight MOUs to boost bilateral ties, defence cooperation
2. 2. BERNAMA – Malaysian Investors Urged to Tap into Business Opportunities in Bangladesh
3. 3. The Edge – Malaysia, Bangladesh strengthen ties with semiconductor, high-tech deal

For your further reading:

1. 1. Malaysiakini – FINEXUS Champions Fintech Innovation by Hosting MAJECA MASSA with Support from Cyberview and Kolaxus

The Embassy of Chile, with the support of MASSA, organised a Trade Opportunities Seminar in conjunction with the inaugural visit of Mr Ignacio Fernández Ruiz, General Director of ProChile to Malaysia on 16 October 2025 at Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur titled “Chile & Malaysia: Opportunities for Stronger Trade – Connecting Markets, Creating Value”.

This seminar brought together 30 participants comprising business leaders, entrepreneurs, and trade professionals for an exchange of ideas, networking, and key opportunities in Chile, highlighting how ProChile can support international business partnerships.

Ms Ana Belen Bueno, Trade Representative for Malaysia, ProChile delivered the Introductory Remarks and was the MC.

H.E Jaime Muñoz, Ambassador of Chile to Malaysia delivered the Welcome Remarks.

Mr Ignacio Fernández Ruiz, General Director of ProChile delivered a Presentation on the Trade Opportunities between Chile and Malaysia.

Ms Ng Su Fun, Executive Secretary, MASSA delivered the Closing Remarks.

Photo Gallery:

‣ President’s Statement

‣ Editorial

‣ Article: Sarawak’s Pathway to a Bio-Based Future

‣ Diary of Events

‣ 12 August 2025
Seminar on Investment Opportunities between Bangladesh and Malaysia

‣ 27 August 2025
MASSA-Kolaxus-MAJECA iDeas Xchange #4 at Finexus Towers, Cyberjaya

‣ 16 October 2025
“Chile & Malaysia: Opportunities for Stronger Trade – Connecting Markets, Creating Value” Seminar

‣ Forthcoming Events

Article Prepared by:

Ms Asha Devi Kaushal

Head of Corporate Affairs
Sarawak Biodiversity Centre

Sarawak’s Pathway to a Bio-Based Future
Sarawak is home to one of the world’s richest biodiversity treasures. For over two decades, the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC) has been at the forefront of harnessing this natural wealth responsibly in Sarawak — ensuring that innovation goes hand-in-hand with conservation and benefit sharing.

Established under the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre Ordinance, 1997, SBC’s legal framework was amended in 2003, 2014 and subsequently in 2025 to strengthen its role. The amended Ordinance introduces Prior Informed Consent (PIC) and Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) regulations — ensuring equitable partnerships with local communities — and importantly, empowers SBC to undertake commercialisation activities arising from its research and innovation.

This landmark amendment positions SBC not only as a custodian of biodiversity but also as a driver of bio-based economic growth, bridging scientific discovery with real-world applications.

From Biodiversity to Innovation

At the heart of SBC’s mission is bioprospecting — exploring rich biological resources from the Sarawak includes plants, microorganisms, and algae to discover bioactive compounds and natural ingredients with commercial potential. Many of these discoveries draw inspiration from traditional knowledge, reflecting the wisdom of local communities who have long used these resources for wellness and cultural practices.

Key initiatives include:

• • Ethnobiological Research – documenting indigenous knowledge for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
• • Natural Product Library – consisting of local plant and microbial extracts, pigments, compounds, essential oils, scent tracks and algae for bioprospecting. It serves as a core discovery platform for screening of bioactive compounds by researchers through a formal agreement with clear benefit sharing obligations.

Project highlights include:

• • Biodiversity Make Scents – developing essential oils and constructed fragrances inspired by indigenous plants of Borneo.
• • Natural colours from the wild – offering natural pigment for cosmetic and food industries.
• • Medicine from Nature – bioactive compounds with anticancer, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties derived from indigenous plants used by local communities, as well as exploring aging-protective microorganisms isolated from the land of Borneo.
• • Multipurpose Microalgae innovation – developing sustainable biomass and bioactive compounds for nutraceutical, aquaculture, and bioenergy applications

These innovations demonstrate how biodiversity can drive new industries based on science, sustainability, and community collaboration.

Integrated R&D Facility and Capability
The Bioprospecting Programme is supported by 7 well-equipped and specialised laboratories and staffed with trained scientists who work in a conducive environment intended for innovative research.

The laboratories (extraction, microbiology, molecular biology, plant tissue culture, analytical chemistry, bioinformatics, and product development) are designed to provide key service along the “jungle-to-lab-to-commercialisation” axis.

The extraction laboratory is equipped with technologies to produce high quality extracts from plants. Various extraction techniques are available to suit different product or research requirements — ideal for companies seeking consistent, scalable raw materials for cosmetics, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals. SBC can process collected samples or collaborate on custom extraction projects tailored to specific R&D needs.

The Analytical Chemistry Laboratory provides end-to-end compound profiling and quality analysis using advanced instrumentation such as HPLC (analytical to preparative scale), QTOF-LCMS, and GCMS. These facilities enable rapid isolation, purification, and identification of both polar and non-polar compounds.

Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory develops and maintains true-to-type plant materials from mother trees with desirable bioactive traits. Protocols are established to support mass propagation of selected species, ensuring a reliable and quality-assured supply chain for future product development and commercialisation.

SBC maintains a unique microbial and algal collection, providing access to:

• • Over 33,000 microbial extracts (actinomycetes and fungi)
• • More than 680 living microalgae strains

These biological resources are available for collaborative R&D in nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, aquaculture, and bioenergy applications. SBC’s established screening assays — antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory — help identify bioactives with commercial potential.

Through the Biodiversity Makes Scents project, SBC has profiled around 700 essential oils derived from Sarawak’s rainforest. These oils are being explored for healthcare, fragrances, and flavours applications. SBC welcomes partnerships with multinational companies and SMEs to co-develop new bio-based ingredients and sustainable consumer products.

Contact information:

Ms Asha Devi Kaushal
Head of Corporate Affairs, N13
Email: asha@sbc.org.my
Phone: +6082-610610 ext. 137

Greetings from MASSA !

As we approach the end of 2025, MASSA extends its appreciation to all members, contributors and collaborators for their support and active participation in our programmes throughout the year. MASSA remains committed to promoting business linkages, trade and investment opportunities, and cross-border partnerships across the South-South region, in line with our long-standing mission to connect Malaysian businesses with emerging markets of the Global South.

In this issue, we are pleased to feature an article contributed by the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC), on “Sarawak’s Pathway to a Bio-Based Future.” The article provides an overview of the role of SBC in commercialisation activities, SBC’s integrated R&D ecosystem, which include spanning ethnobiological research, natural product libraries, microbial and algal collections, plant tissue culture facilities, analytical chemistry capabilities and product development laboratories, and highlights Sarawak’s concerted efforts to advance a science-driven, sustainable and commercially relevant bio-based economy. This article will be of interest to firms exploring opportunities in natural products, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, sustainability-driven supply chains and collaborative R&D ventures.

During this quarter, MASSA participated in several engagements aimed at strengthening bilateral economic cooperation and fostering innovation-led industry linkages. On 12 August 2025, the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) convened a seminar on “Investment Opportunities between Bangladesh and Malaysia” in conjunction with the official visit of Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, H.E. Dr Muhammad Yunus, to Malaysia at the invitation of the Prime Minister, YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim. MASSA was represented by Vice-President, Datuk Merlyn Kasimir, and Executive Secretary, Ms Ng Su Fun. The seminar presented the latest developments and investment prospects under “Bangladesh 2.0: Gateway to Growth”, offering Malaysian businesses current insights into the country’s reform trajectory and expanding economic landscape.

On 27 August 2025, the Malaysia South-South Association (MASSA), together with the Malaysia-Japan Economic Association (MAJECA) and Kolaxus, organised the fourth session of the iDeas Xchange Series at Finexus Towers, Cyberjaya, with support from Finexus Group and Cyberview Sdn Bhd. The session brought together 110 participants comprising corporate representatives, government agencies and members of Malaysia’s startup community. The Series continues to serve as a platform to facilitate meaningful interactions between corporates and startups, enabling collaboration, innovation sharing and partnership development in support of Malaysia’s broader innovation and digital economy ambitions.

MASSA also supported a Trade Opportunities Seminar organised by the Embassy of Chile in Malaysia in conjunction with the inaugural visit of Mr Ignacio Fernández Ruiz, General Director of ProChile to Malaysia on 16 October 2025. The Seminar, titled “Chile & Malaysia: Opportunities for Stronger Trade – Connecting Markets, Creating Value” brought together business leaders, entrepreneurs, and trade professionals for an exchange of ideas, networking, and identification of opportunities in Chile, highlighting how ProChile can support international business partnerships.

As we move into 2026, MASSA will continue to work closely with partners, government agencies and industry stakeholders to develop programmes that will enhance members’ access to emerging markets, new sectors and strategic collaborations. Upcoming events to look forward to include the iDeas Xchange series, Visits, greater engagement on Timor-Leste to complement the membership of the country in ASEAN, will be announced through our Circulars to members. We welcome the participation, ideas and initiatives of our members to co-create programmes that support the Malaysian business community.

MASSA extends warm season’s greetings and best wishes for a healthy, safe and fulfilling year ahead.

Thank you.

Ng Su Fun

Editorial MASSA