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JOHOR BAHRU, Friday, 6 September 2024: The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
(ACCA) and Johor Corporation (JCorp) have formalised a strategic partnership with the signing of a
Letter of Collaboration (LoC) aimed at advancing talent recruitment and capacity building within JCorp’s
group. The signing ceremony was held during the visit of ACCA’s Chief Executive, Helen Brand, as part
of her tour of Singapore and Malaysia in celebration of ACCA’s 88th anniversary in this region.

The LoC, signed by Andrew Lim, Portfolio Head of ACCA Maritime Southeast Asia, and Rozaini Mohd
Sani, Chief Financial Officer of Johor Corporation, outlines an agreement to work together on a broader
talent agenda. This partnership focuses on quality recruitment and upskilling initiatives to produce more
professionally qualified accountants within JCorp and its group of companies.

This partnership builds on the decade-long relationship between ACCA and JCorp and continues to
support the development of a skilled and job-ready workforce, positioning JCorp as a leader in talent
development within Malaysia’s dynamic business landscape.

Helen Brand, Chief Executive of ACCA, said: “This collaboration with Johor Corporation reflects our
shared commitment to building a robust pipeline of talent that will drive positive change in the country.
Together, we are nurturing future-ready finance professionals who are equipped with both technical
proficiency and a deep understanding of sustainability and ethical leadership.”

Key areas of collaboration include joint efforts to develop strategies that promote continuous professional development preparing future leaders for successful careers in accountancy and finance. The partnership also emphasises leveraging ACCA’s learning resources and professional networks to support these objectives.

Rozaini Mohd Sani, Chief Financial Officer of Johor Corporation, said: “Our partnership with ACCA
is an important step in enhancing our ability to attract and develop top-tier finance professionals who are
ready to meet the evolving demands of the industry. This aligns with our broader commitment to
excellence in financial management and sustainable business practices.”

About ACCA
We are ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), a globally recognised professional
accountancy body providing qualifications and advancing standards in accountancy worldwide.

Founded in 1904 to widen access to the accountancy profession, we’ve long championed inclusion and
today proudly support a diverse community of over 252,500 members and 526,000 future members in
180 countries.

Our forward-looking qualifications, continuous learning and insights are respected and valued by
employers in every sector. They equip individuals with the business and finance expertise and ethical
judgment to create, protect, and report the sustainable value delivered by organisations and economies.

Guided by our purpose and values, our ambition is to lead the accountancy profession for a changed
world. Partnering with policymakers, standard setters, the donor community, educators and other
accountancy bodies, we’re strengthening and building a profession that drives a sustainable future for
all.

Find out more at: www.accaglobal.com

KUALA LUMPUR, 03 September 2024: An exciting era of new collaboration and partnership for Malaysian and New Zealand businesses was launched during an event at the Shangri-La Hotel on Monday.

Attended by the Right Honourable Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand, the event sought to celebrate the strength of the existing trade relationship between New Zealand and Malaysia, while promoting New Zealand’s capabilities in innovation and leading tech solutions and world-class food and beverage.

A total of ten new or expanded partnership agreements between Malaysian and New Zealand companies were witnessed by Mr Luxon, who had earlier come from a meeting with Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to further high-level government relations and enhance bilateral trade as part of his two-day visit to Malaysia.

The significant number of partnerships is evidence of the growing relationship between New Zealand and Malaysia, which has seen two-way trade between the two countries nearly double since 2016.

Food and beverage remains New Zealand’s largest export category to Malaysia, with dairy its single biggest export. In the year to March 2024, New Zealand exported NZ$808 million (RM2.2 billion) in dairy products to Malaysia, supplying over 45% of all Malaysia’s dairy imports.

Innovation and technology is growing in prominence as increasing numbers of New Zealand companies partner with Malaysian businesses and New Zealand’s reputation as a hub for world-class solutions grows. In the past ten years, the New Zealand tech sector has more than doubled in size. It is now the fastest growing sector in the New Zealand economy and its second largest export earner after dairy.

Prime Minister Luxon said the event was recognition of the extensive business relationship between Malaysia and New Zealand and the interest in growing trade even further: “Malaysia and New Zealand partner well across the food and beverage and technology sectors, and there is significant potential opportunity to further extend these relationships for mutual benefit,” said Mr Luxon.

“It was exciting to meet with these leading Malaysian companies and see just how well New Zealand can
complement them in their growth aspirations here in Malaysia and further afield,” he said.

Six companies in the food, beverage and agriculture sectors solidified new relationships:

-Alliance – New Zealand’s only 100% farmer-owned red meat co-operative, signed an MoU with Malaysian partner Fatric to expand of the company’s premium lamb and mutton programme in Malaysia. Alliance’s Pukeuri (Oamaru) processing plant is one of just five New Zealand lamb plants licensed to supply Malaysia. The MoU marked more than two decades of collaborative and mutually supportive partnership since 1992.

-New Zealand’s Lincoln University and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) signed a MoU, paving the way
for enhanced research and academic collaboration between the two institutions in the critical areas of
agriculture and food security.

-Leading New Zealand snack company Griffin’s Food Ltd signed an agreement with Malaysian
distribution partner AIT Fine Food to launch its Proper Crisps brand into Malaysia. AIT has been Griffin’s
valued Malaysian distribution and sales partner since 2011 and is the company’s largest distributor in
Asia.

-Comvita – a global market leader in Mānuka honey and bee products – signed an MoU with Big Caring

Group with a view to launching Comvita products into its chain of stores.

-Southern Fresh signed an agreement with Malaysian supplier Agroto Business to launch Southern
Fresh’s premium quality New Zealand produce into the Aeon supermarket chain.

-NIG Nutritionals signed an MoU with Delfi Marketing to expand its existing partnership and formalise
distribution for its high-quality quality nutritional products in Malaysia.

A further four partnerships in the manufacturing, technology and innovation sectors were formalised:

-Hamilton Jet – a global leader in marine waterjet propulsion technology – agreed to formalise supply
agreements with Malaysia’s Gading Marine Industry and Sarawak Slipways to further expand the use
of its pioneering technology in the market.

-Orion Health formalised a partnership agreement with Malaysian healthcare solutions provider MH
Nexus to advance digital health solutions to the local healthcare market in South-East Asia.

-Pacific Edge and Premier Integrated Labs signed an MoU to formalise a distribution and testing
services agreement.

The Prime Minister is joined in Malaysia by the Honourable Melissa Lee, Minister for Economic Development and the Honourable Nicola Grigg, Minister of State for Trade and Associate Minister of Agriculture, along with a 17-strong business delegation representing New Zealand’s top exporters in Malaysia.

As part of the mission, the delegation visited New Zealand’s Skyline Luge in Kuala Lumpur, where the iconic Kiwi attraction was celebrating its 1 millionth rider milestone, just nine months after its Malaysia launch. The delegation also supported a new clinic opening for New Zealand specialist health solutions provider, Fertility Associates in Malaysia.

About New Zealand Trade and Enterprise
Te Taurapa Tūhono | New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) is the New Zealand government’s international business development agency. Our purpose is to grow companies internationally – bigger, better, faster – for the good of New Zealand. NZTE uses its extensive knowledge and global networks to help exporters of all sizes make better decisions and connect to the right partners and investors. We connect international businesses and investors with high-value growth opportunities in New Zealand.

KUALA LUMPUR, 3 September 2024 — Shopee’s ‘Sayangi Malaysia, Jom Rai Lokal 2024’1 study reveals a significant milestone in the Malaysian e-commerce landscape: over 100,000 entrepreneurs joined the Shopee ecosystem in 2024. This substantial increase reflects the rising acknowledgement of e-commerce as a vital and sustainable business model in today’s rapidly changing digital market.

 

“The impressive growth of Malaysian entrepreneurs on our platform this year is a testament to their proactive embracing of digital opportunities. Shopee remains dedicated to providing local Malaysian businesses with the essential resources including Affiliate Marketing Solutions, third-party logistics services, and Shopee Live to thrive in today’s competitive e-commerce landscape. We are proud to play a part in the journey for local enterprises to broaden their reach, optimise their operations, and achieve growth in this ever-evolving economy,” said Ming Kit Tan, Head of Marketing and Business Intelligence at Shopee Malaysia.

 

Shopee Live has emerged as a powerful instrument for local entrepreneurs, with a 113% increase in new sellers live streaming in 2024. This rise shows Shopee Live’s growing importance as Malaysia’s go-to platform for live commerce. Local sellers recognise Shopee Live’s interactive features that facilitate direct customer engagement, allowing them to build stronger, lasting relationships. The platform’s ease of entry and real-time feedback mechanisms are proving crucial in helping businesses stand out in a competitive marketplace, create meaningful connections with their customers, and reach nationwide audiences. The adoption of Shopee Live as a key business strategy is clear, with local sellers conducting over 1.4 million livestreams and receiving more than 27 million unique comments from users this year. 

 

Petals Malaysia2, a Selangor-based hair care brand, joined Shopee in 2021 to offer sustainable, wudhu’-friendly, Made-in-Malaysia products tailored to local preferences. Before joining Shopee, their market presence was limited to retail outlets, restricting their exposure and visibility. “Shopee provided access to a vast online audience, significantly expanding our market reach,” said Khairul Azman, Founder of Petals Malaysia. “Shopee Live has also transformed our customer engagement. Through live sessions, we directly interact with shoppers, answer their questions in real time, and effectively showcase our products. This immediate engagement builds trust and drives purchases. We also use live polls and Q&A sessions to involve viewers, gather feedback, and enhance the overall shopping experience.” Petals has sold over 26,000 units of their best-selling halal hair dye ‘Hair Color Shampoo’ since 2021.

 

The study also highlights a 65% increase in Shopee Live sellers from Malaysia’s East Coast, reflecting the platform’s success in helping local businesses expand their reach across the country. This underscores Shopee’s commitment in helping entrepreneurs from less urbanised regions to grow with e-commerce. East Coast sellers are using Shopee Live to build brand loyalty and deepen customer engagement, helping the platform create more opportunities for aspiring business-owners across Malaysia. 

Shopee’s top 500 locally-owned enterprises have achieved an average of 50% year-on-year growth in 2024, demonstrating the platform’s effectiveness in driving business expansion. This success highlights the strength of Shopee’s ecosystem and its role in helping sellers innovate and grow. The ‘Sayangi Malaysia, Jom Rai Lokal 2024’ study also shows Shopee’s commitment to supporting local businesses and growing the digital economy. Shopee continues to be an important partner for homegrown businesses, offering tools and services that help sellers achieve new levels of success.

Singapore, 29 August 2024 – UOB today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Invest Johor, the state’s investment agency, to drive investment opportunities into the upcoming Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

UOB also signed a second MOU today with China’s Lingang Group, an industrial park operator with more than 18,000 tenants across China. Under the partnership, UOB will facilitate Lingang Group and its tenants to expand into Southeast Asia.

Partnering to grow the Johor-Singapore SEZ

Under the partnership with Invest Johor, UOB will collaborate with the state investment agency to jointly promote and facilitate investment opportunities into the Johor-Singapore SEZ. This will be done by targeting high value, high technology and high impact investments from priority sectors such as electrical and electronics, advanced manufacturing and engineering, digital economy, green economy, life science and med-tech, electric vehicles, aerospace and port and logistics.

Notably, a “green lane” will be jointly established, with UOB designated as a partner to assist with foreign direct investments in these prioritised sectors to accelerate their investments. UOB will also provide advisory and banking services to companies looking to invest in Johor as part of the MOU.

The MOU was signed by Invest Johor’s CEO, Mr Natazha Bin Hariss and UOB Malaysia’s CEO, Ms Ng Wei Wei, at the ASEAN Conference held in Singapore today. The ceremony was witnessed by Johor’s Menteri Besar, Yang Amat Berhormat Dato’ Onn Hafiz bin Ghazi, and UOB’s Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Wee Ee Cheong.

Dato’ Onn Hafiz said, “From our engagements with key stakeholders of the Johor-Singapore SEZ, expectations are very high. This will require us to step up our game, provide excellent service and ensure that we not only meet, but exceed these expectations. Today’s MOU between Invest Johor, the state’s lead investment agency and UOB, one of ASEAN’s leading financial institutions with over seven decades of experience in assisting investors in Malaysia, is one example of our seriousness and focus in improving the investor experience in Johor.”

Mr Wee Ee Cheong said, “UOB is pleased to work with like-minded partners to support businesses in navigating the diverse ASEAN region. Our strategic partnerships with regional government investment agencies and trade associations have successfully connected enterprises such as Lingang Group to cross-border investment opportunities, benefitting businesses across multiple sectors. We remained committed to serving as an effective gateway to the region for companies expanding into the region.”

UOB is the only bank to have signed MOUs with all the government investment agencies in the key ASEAN markets.

Ms Ng Wei Wei, Chief Executive Officer of UOB Malaysia said, “The MOU with Invest Johor reinforces UOB’s commitment to facilitate foreign direct investment into Malaysia and support the success of the Johor-Singapore SEZ. Apart from bringing in investments, we will also connect foreign investors to the local ecosystem value chains with the aim to benefit our local businesses, particularly the SMEs. This is to ensure that foreign investors can tap into local resources and the investments can bring multiplier effect to the economy.”

MOU with China’s Lingang Group

In addition, UOB facilitated a meeting with China’s Lingang Group, Johor’s Menteri Besar and a delegation from Invest Johor at the sidelines of the ASEAN Conference.

This followed the signing of the second MOU today between UOB and Lingang Group, an industrial park operator with more than 18,000 tenants across China. Under the partnership, UOB will facilitate Lingang Group and its tenants to expand into Southeast Asia.

The MOU with Lingang Group was signed by Ms Yang Jing, Chief Financial Officer, Lingang Group, and Mr Leong Yung Chee, Head of Group Corporate Banking at UOB. It was witnessed by Mr Weng Kaining, Chairman, Shanghai Lingang Holdings Corp, and Mr Frederick Chin, Head of Group Wholesale Banking and Markets, UOB.

The state-owned enterprise has more than four decades of experience developing industrial parks and focuses on investment promotion and operation of industrial parks, professional enterprise services and sci-tech industrial investment. Lingang Group currently operates the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ), a tech hub established in 2019 and have played a key role in the opening of China’s economy to global investors.

Lingang Group’s cross-border expansion plans will leverage UOB’s extensive trade network as the preferred bank for all their banking needs. UOB, through UOB China, has successfully facilitated first-of-its-kind cross border transactions with Lingang Group, benefitting both onshore Chinese and UOB clients to route their capital and trading flows through the policies and concessions offered under the Pilot FTZ.

UOB’s Foreign Direct Investment Advisory Unit will also serve as a one-stop shop dedicated to helping Lingang Group through its close partnerships with regional government agencies, trade associations and professional service providers, providing customised solutions to fit Lingang Group’s expansion plans.

About UOB Malaysia

UOB Malaysia is rated among the top banks in Malaysia with a long-term AAA rating from Ratings Agency of Malaysia. It has over seven decades of presence in the country, and operates 55 branches nationwide, offering both conventional and Islamic banking services to its customers.

UOB Malaysia is a subsidiary of UOB, a leading bank in Asia with a global network of around 500 offices in 19 countries and territories in Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America. UOB has adopted a customer-centric approach to creating long-term value by staying relevant through its enterprising spirit and doing right by its customers. UOB is focused on building the future of ASEAN – for the people and businesses within and connecting with ASEAN.

The Bank connects businesses to opportunities in the region with its unparalleled regional footprint and leverages data and insights to innovate and create personalised banking experiences and solutions catering to each customer’s unique needs and evolving preferences. UOB is also committed to helping businesses forge a sustainable future, by fostering social inclusiveness, creating positive environmental impact and pursuing economic progress. UOB believes in being a responsible financial services provider and is steadfast in its support of art, social development of children and education, doing right by its communities and stakeholders.