
EMPOWERING ASEAN WITH SMART COLLABORATION
Unlocking Asean's potential through innovation, inclusivity and sustainable growth
THE 2025 Asean Leadership and Partnership Forum (ALPF) is set to promote economic co-operation, business collaboration and alliance between governments, businesses and civil society to advance sustainable and inclusive development.
The Asean Economic Club, Asean Business Club, Asean Business Advisory Council and KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific will jointly convene the ALPF on May 25, on the eve of the 46th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur.
The ALPF is a leading regional forum convened annually in the country chairing Asean and it has been hosted across all Asean countries over the years.
Beyond discussions and exchanges, the forum will serve as a vital platform for high-level networking to connect, exchange ideas and explore collaborations in key areas such as investment, innovation, technology, digital transformation and green growth.
Yeoh said the ALPF focuses on public-private-people partnerships to uphold and promote the triple bottom line of planet, people and prosperity.
Asean Economic Club (AEC) founder and chairman, and forum organising chairman, Tan Sri Michael Yeoh – who is also KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific president – said the ALPF focuses on public-private-people partnerships to uphold and promote the triple bottom line of planet, people and prosperity.
From interactive sessions on digital innovations to roundtables on Asean connectivity, green growth and sustainable development, delegates from all 10 Asean countries will experience a dynamic environment conducive to dialogue, collaboration and action.
The ALPF will also provide timely opportunities to discuss geostrategic and geoeconomic challenges in an increasingly volatile environment.
Distinguished speakers at the forum will include the Prime Ministers of Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as ministers, business and thought leaders from Asean member countries.
The forum paves the way for Asean to take bold steps towards a more relevant, equitable and sustainable future.
'It has never been more timely and critical to discuss Asean leadership and partnership.
'The foundation of Asean prosperity is shaken. The world has changed,' said Asean Business Club (ABC) president and former Asean Business Advisory Council chairman Tan Sri Dr Munir Majid.
'It has never been more timely and critical to discuss Asean leadership and partnership,' said Munir.
'We are grateful, therefore, to the Asean leaders gracing our event to address the challenges before participants of the forum.'
The forum will gather a distinguished lineup of speakers from across the regional grouping of 10 states and beyond, including policymakers, business leaders and scholars.
Sessions will address topics such as digital transformation, sustainable development, innovation ecosystems, green economy and inclusive growth.
Among the prominent speakers are:
> Senior Minister, Royal Government of Cambodia advisor, Cambodian Development Resource Institute board chairman and AEC adviser Dr Sok Siphana;
> Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI) founder, AEC co-chair and former Indonesian Foreign Affairs vice minister Dr Dino Patti Djalal;
> Center for China and Globalization (CCG) founder and president, and China State Council former counsellor Dr Henry Huiyao Wang;
> Hong Kong Legislative Council member and Hong Kong Productivity Council chairman Sunny Tan;
> China Daily Asia Pacific publisher and China Daily Group deputy editor-in-chief Zhou Li;
> ESCAP Sustainable Business Network (ESBN) chair, Sintesa Group chief executive officer, and Indonesian Employers Association chairman Shinta Widjaja Kamdani;
> SGV & Co (Ernst and Young, Philippines) senior policy advisor and former Philippines Foreign Minister Delia D. Albert;
> Indian Chamber of Commerce director-general Dr Rajeev Singh;
> EU-Asean Business Council (Singapore) executive director Chris Humphrey;
> The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China Belt and Road commissioner Nicholas Ho Lik-chi.
The forum is sponsored by the Kuok Group and Asia Platinum Capital, with Star Media Group Bhd, China Daily and Khmer Times as media partners.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Asean capital cities unite to address waste and climate challenges
KUALA LUMPUR: A collaborative network has been established for Asean capital cities to work together to address various common challenges, including waste management, climate change and natural disasters. This was among the outcomes announced by Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif after chairing the 2025 Meeting of Governors and Mayors of Asean Capitals (MGMAC) at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre today (Aug 13). The network, known as the MGMAC City Network, will promote knowledge-sharing and progress reporting on the implementation of sustainable development goals and the New Urban Agenda by carrying out voluntary local reviews, according to Maimunah. "All Asean capital cities have agreed to support the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, especially concerning zero-waste initiatives and climate action. "This includes the voluntary participation in the UN-Habitat Waste Wise Cities initiative. Each capital city will also submit a report on their waste management efforts," she said. Asean capital cities have also agreed to promote and advocate for local-level climate investments by international institutions such as the United Nations System, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, according to Maimunah. "We will leverage on these organisations' technical expertise and financial capabilities to support climate mitigation and adaptation initiatives in our cities," she said. She added that Asean capital cities will also adopt a thematic approach to assist each other in the areas of zero waste as well as climate adaptation and mitigation. The 10 Asean capital cities have also agreed in principle to set up a secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia, to deepen their partnership to better implement the Asean Vision 2045, according to Maimunah. "The details of the secretariat will be discussed in the technical meetings that will be held after this. "The secretariat can help monitor the cities' commitments towards the Asean Vision 2045 and prepare for future meetings," she added. Also present were United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific (UCLG ASPAC) secretary-general Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, Manila vice mayor Angela Lei "Chi" Atienza and Urbanice Malaysia chief executive officer Norliza Hashim. MGMAC will be held in Manila, the Philippines, next year as the country assumes the chair of Asean.


New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Zahid proposes Asean task force for green, digital skills development
KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has proposed the formation of an Asean Green and Digital Skills Task Force to unite member states in developing an inclusive, future-ready workforce capable of leading the global Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) industry. He said the task force could be established by building on the momentum of the ongoing Asean TVET Conference 2025, serving as a platform for concrete actions, measurable targets, and mutual support to nurture the talent the region needs. "This is how Asean will shape a workforce that is inclusive, future-ready, and poised to lead the global TVET industry," he said when opening the two-day conference at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre today. He added that discussions at the conference must lead to tangible outcomes, rather than remain mere dialogue. "At this conference, I see there will be discussions on skills mismatch, the rising demand for digital and green talent, and the drive for innovation. "I have instructed my officers to capture these insights because I will not allow this to be mere dialogue. "It must spark policies that meet market needs, open opportunities for all, make employers true partners, and fast-track cutting-edge learning," he said. Zahid, who chairs the National TVET Council, also renewed calls for a regional skills recognition framework to ensure that TVET graduates from any Asean country have their qualifications recognised across the bloc, creating a single labour market for skilled workers. He said such a framework would open more employment opportunities, address skills shortages, and strengthen economic integration. Highlighting Malaysia's own approach, Zahid said the country's TVET transformation was anchored on three guiding pillars: integrating the efforts of 12 ministries under one vision to eliminate silos and duplication, aligning skills training with market needs, and ensuring inclusivity so that no community, however remote, is left behind. "These pillars form the backbone of the National TVET Policy 2030, a clear roadmap for transformation," he said. In June, Zahid had said that Malaysia was forging strategic partnerships with international educational institutions and industry players, including those from the United Kingdom, to develop a regionally recognised certification and a centre of excellence for TVET. This initiative is part of the government's goal not only to produce skilled workers, but also to make Malaysia a recognised reference centre for TVET training and certification in Asean. As for the conference today, the event is jointly organised by the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) and the Skills Development Fund Corporation, in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Asean. Held under the banner of the Asean Year of Skills (AYOS) 2025, ATVET 2025 brings together policymakers, industry leaders, TVET institutions and international organisations to address issues, share best practices and explore strategies for advancing technical and vocational education and training. With more than 1,000 delegates, including government representatives, industry professionals, academics and the public, the conference serves as a platform for dialogue that drives action, supporting Asean's workforce transformation goals and sustainable economic growth. Harnessing green skills is among the conference's priorities, with a session on "Green Platform: Driving Asean's Digital and Green Transformation."


The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Cambodians in Japan call for peace back home: Envoy
PHNOM PENH: The Cambodian ambassador to Japan has shared how Cambodians living in Japan rallied in a show of unity to support frontline soldiers and displaced civilians on Aug 3. They also called for Thailand to respect the July 28 ceasefire. Dozens of Cambodians from across Japan marched to the Thai embassy in Tokyo, calling for an end to the border dispute. The spontaneous protest, which was not organised by the Cambodian embassy in Japan, drew participants from all walks of life. 'We did not expect the participation of so many Cambodians who were not announced by the embassy,' Cambodian ambassador to Japan Tuy Ry was visiting the Wat Phnom Thma Kambor refugee camp in Oddar Meanchey province's Banteay Ampil district on Aug 11. He shared his surprise at the number of Cambodians who took part in the march. 'They came from all sides out of their own hearts, wanting to show that Cambodians love Cambodians, Cambodians have one heart, Cambodians of all political trends, all classes, do not take sides. Now is the opportunity for Cambodians to unite as one,' he said. On Aug 11, ambassador Ry and Meas Kim Heng, secretary of state at the foreign ministry, led a delegation on a field visit to displacement camps in Banteay Ampil district, Oddar Meanchey province, and Srey Snam district, Siem Reap province. Hong Raksmey 'The protesters condemned Thailand for initiating attacks on Cambodian troops and accused the Thai military of deploying F-16 jets to drop bombs, releasing chemical fumes and using internationally banned cluster munitions,' he told The Post. They also called for the immediate release of 18 detained Cambodian soldiers. 'I believe that there was surprise and interest from the international community,' Ry noted. 'Cambodian people abroad have the same spirit, showing one Cambodian heart,' he added. The ambassador voiced strong support for the Cambodian government's stance on demanding Thailand's full adherence to the ceasefire and backed the use of Asean monitoring mechanisms to ensure compliance. He also urged national and international NGOs visiting the refugee camps in Banteay Ampil to bear witness to the 'difficult situation of peace-loving Cambodians' displaced by the conflict. 'Living in the refugee camp is not as comfortable as at home,' he noted. 'When they heard about the ceasefire agreement, they wanted to go home,' he said. The ambassador paired a diplomatic push with material aid. On Aug 13, embassy representatives visited troops in the Preah Vihear military operation area, delivering 100 ICOM radios, 20 power banks, 100 kilogrammes of garlic, 100 large water bottles, 100 cartons of purified water and a tonne of rice. The same day, they met with 700 refugee families at Wat Oudorkiri Toul Andet camp in Kulen district, distributing aid worth 100,000 riel ($25) per family. On Aug 14, the delegation plans to visit 101 wounded soldiers at 16 Makara Hospital in Preah Vihear. Cambodians in Japan raised more than $22,426 for the effort, while ESEA-Japan and local Cambodians contributed over $12,000, bringing the total to $34,180. According to Ry, the aid package for Preah Vihear troops totalled over 34 million riel ($8,680), support for displaced families reached 70 million riels ($17,500) and assistance for injured soldiers amounted to 32 million riels ($8,000). He also voiced his support for Prime Minister Hun Manet's nomination of US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his role in defusing tensions along the Cambodia–Thailand border. 'I would like to emphasise that the generous contributions of Cambodian philanthropists in Japan, together with the officials and staff of the Cambodian embassy in Japan and the ESEA team of the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, reflect the virtues and unity of Cambodians — our one heart, our love for the nation, and our deep respect and gratitude for the brave heroes who have worked tirelessly to defend Cambodia's sovereignty and territorial integrity from Thailand's aggression,' he said. 'All the philanthropists also expressed their condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers, who bravely and selflessly sacrificed their lives in service to the nation and in defence of Cambodian territory,' he added. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN