Spotlight on Asean business
KUALA LUMPUR: Entrepreneurs and emerging business leaders from Asean will gather in the capital for a series of major events to be hosted by the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM).
The line-up of events will begin in August with the 14th Young Entrepreneurs Conference, the YEC Awards and the Asean Young Entrepreneurs Dialogue, said ACCCIM president Datuk Ng Yih Pyng.
These gatherings, he said, are aimed at promoting regional collaboration and innovation among emerging business leaders.
'In September, we will see the Asean AI Business Summit, focusing on cutting-edge innovation and technology.
'Then it's followed by the Asean Chinese Business Summit and the prestigious Chinese Business Awards gala night in October.
'These events will bring together distinguished participants and enterprises from across Asean to Kuala Lumpur,' he said when addressing media practitioners during the 2025 ACCCIM media night on Wednesday.
Ng also unveiled an upcoming milestone – the ACCCIM Academy, a new initiative aimed at providing practical, industry-relevant training programmes.
'It is imperative for companies to be equipped with the right skills to stay competitive in a fast-changing market.
'Whether it's digital transformation, compliance, finance or soft skills, the ACCCIM Academy aims to ensure that businesses have access to a trained and capable workforce to support sustainable growth,' he said.
Ng also took the opportunity to thank the media for their role in amplifying ACCCIM's messages to the public and policymakers.
'We are grateful for your professional coverage, which helps amplify our concerns and influence policy directions,' he said, adding that media coverage could impact Malaysia's business ecosystem.
He commended the media's support at the 17th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention in September last year, noting that over 200 articles from various media outlets contributed significantly to the event's success.
The dinner on Wednesday was attended by notable figures such as ACCCIM's life honorary presidents Tan Sri William Cheng, Datuk Seri Lim Kok Cheong and Tan Sri Low Kian Chuan.
Other guests included the Prime Minister's political secretary Chan Ming Kai, Star Media Group (SMG) group chief executive officer Chan Seng Fatt and SMG chief content officer Datin Paduka Esther Ng, plus other media practitioners.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Times
13 minutes ago
- Business Times
Asia: Markets mixed as trade deal cut-off looms
[HONG KONG] Asian markets swung on Wednesday amid trade war worries after Donald Trump said he would not push back next week's tariff deadline, with Tokyo taking a hit from threats to ramp up Japanese levies. Sentiment was also mixed after the US president's signature budget bill scraped through the senate, with optimism over the extension of deep tax cuts offset by warnings that it could add around US$3 trillion to the country's already ballooning national debt. With a week to go before Trump's 90-day pause on so-called reciprocal tariffs ends, hardly any governments have struck deals to avert the taxes, though White House officials have claimed several are in the pipeline. And while the White House had set July 9 as the cut-off date for leaders to finalise pacts, investors largely expect that to be pushed back or countries given extra time. However, the president said Tuesday he was 'not thinking about the pause' and again warned he would end negotiations or ramp up some duties, adding that he will be 'writing letters to a lot of countries'. Among those in his sights was Japan, which he slammed at the start of the week over US rice and auto exports to the country. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up 'I'm not sure we're going to make a deal. I doubt it with Japan, they're very tough. You have to understand, they're very spoiled,' he said Tuesday. He added that Tokyo had 'ripped us off for 30, 40, years'. They could pay a tariff of '30 per cent, 35 per cent, or whatever the number is that we determine, because we also have a very big trade deficit with Japan', he warned. The remarks, which come after several visits by Japanese officials to Washington, jolted hopes that deals can be cut with the Trump administration. Tokyo's Nikkei index fell around one per cent on Wednesday, having fallen more than that the day before. 'With domestic elections around the corner, Tokyo can't easily open the rice market,' said Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management. 'But without concessions on autos, the lifeblood of its export economy, Japan stands exposed.' He added: 'The auto sector, nearly a tenth of Japan's (gross domestic product), is directly in the crosshairs. It's not just about tariffs - it's about visibility. 'Japan is being made an example of, and markets are watching who's next.' Asia Society Policy Institute vice president Wendy Cutler told AFP that 'Japan's refusal to open its rice market, coupled with the US resistance to lowering automotive tariffs, may lead to the reimposition of Japan's 24 per cent reciprocal tariff'. Seoul was also sharply lower as South Korean negotiators battled to reach a deal with the White House. Elsewhere in Asia, Shanghai, Taipei, Manila and Jakarta also fell while Hong Kong, Sydney, Singapore and Wellington edged up. Eyes are also on Washington after senators passed Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' that he says will boost the economy by extending tax cuts and slashing spending on programmes such as Medicare. The legislation now faces a tough passage through the House of Representatives, where some Republicans have raised concerns about its cost amid already heightened fears over the country's finances. The dollar remained under pressure against its peers as bets on a Federal Reserve interest rate cut intensify ahead of key US jobs data this week. While most traders see a reduction in September, there is growing speculation a weak reading on the non-farm payrolls report could boost the chances of a move at this month's central bank policy meeting. The Dollar Index, which compares the greenback to a basket of major currencies, fell 10.8 per cent in the first half of the year, its steepest decline since the greenback became the global benchmark currency. AFP
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Kevin Durant Accidentally Dissed His New Teammate In Viral Moment With LeBron James
Kevin Durant Accidentally Dissed His New Teammate In Viral Moment With LeBron James originally appeared on Fadeaway World. In a recent guest appearance on the 'Mind the Game' podcast, Kevin Durant spoke on countless subjects, including his career, the NBA, and life as a professional athlete. In one particular exchange, he spoke at length on shot selection and explained how he'd rather the ball be in the best player's hands than to pass it out to someone like Dorian Finney-Smith with the clock winding down. Advertisement Steve Nash: "The mid-range has never been more important; it just has to come from the right dudes. The court is spaced now by the role-players, what do you think they're trying to take away? Threes and layups, so the star has to be able to make mid-range shots or else the team is not gonna be able to score." Kevin Durant: "If you can't find a good shot, we should look for the good shots early. Attack the paint, try to get layups, try to get threes, but when there's 5-6 seconds left on the clock, give the ball to the best player. And if he shoots a mid-range at that point, he shoots a mid-range, but we're not gonna waste the clock trying to look for a three, two seconds on the clock, and we're giving it to Dorian Finney-Smith with two seconds on the clock. That's not a sustainable offense." Of course, Durant was just using Dorian as an example to illustrate his philosophy when it comes to team scoring. Durant always looks for the best shot, and he isn't like other stars in that he'd rather go iso in the mid-range over passing it off to one of his teammates. Unlike LeBron, Kevin is a shoot-first player, and he believes he's the best-equipped to get his team a bucket on demand. Compare that to LeBron James, who likes to look for the open man and the cleanest shot on every possession, and it's clear how their priorities differ on the court. In the case of Dorian Finney-Smith, Durant said he's better off watching the play than taking the final shot himself. What Durant didn't know at the time was that he'd end up being teammates with Finney-Smith. Days after Kevin's trade to Houston, Finney-Smith agreed to a deal with the Rockets for four years and $53 million. He and Durant will join Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., and Fred VanVleet on a stacked roster. Advertisement Funnily enough, it's going to be Durant working with Dorian Finney-Smith now, and he'll be making more than a few passes to him on the three-point line, where he made 39.8% of his threes last season. With the Rockets, they intend to compete for a championship and help build their momentum after capturing the second-best seed in the West in 2025. Next season will be the hardest test yet for Durant, who will be tasked with leading the Rockets to a title at 36 years old. If he plays his game and stays healthy in the process, the sky is the limit for this Rockets team. Of course, their success will also depend on guys like DFS accepting their role and learning to play within the flow of the game. Related: Rockets Guarantee $122 Million Contract To 6'10 Big; Still Have $80 Million Space To Extend Kevin Durant This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Reuters
14 minutes ago
- Reuters
Gold prices ease ahead of US data as investors weigh Fed rate stance
July 2 (Reuters) - Gold prices edged lower on Wednesday as investors awaited U.S. payroll data and assessed Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's cautious stance on rate cuts, although a weaker dollar helped limit losses for greenback-priced bullion. Spot gold was down 0.2% at $3,330.68 per ounce, as of 0217 GMT, while U.S. gold futures fell 0.3% to $3,340.60. The U.S. dollar index (.DXY), opens new tab weakened to its lowest point in more than three years, making bullion more affordable for holders of other currencies. "Gold prices are consolidating after posting the strongest gains in two weeks. The overall trend bias continues to favour the upside for now," said Ilya Spivak, head of global macro at Tastylive, adding Fed policy expectations are taking center stage at the moment. Powell reiterated that the U.S. central bank plans to "wait and learn more" about the impact of tariffs on inflation before lowering interest rates, again setting aside U.S. President Donald Trump's demands for immediate and deep rate cuts. U.S. job openings unexpectedly increased in May, but a decline in hiring added to signs that the labour market had shifted into lower gear amid uncertainty over the Trump administration's tariffs on imports. Investors are now awaiting U.S. ADP employment data, due later in the day, and nonfarm payroll figures on Thursday for further insights into labour market conditions. "The biggest risk for gold is an unexpectedly strong (NFP)result, but that seems rather unlikely to happen," Spivak said. Meanwhile, U.S. Senate Republicans narrowly passed Trump's tax-and-spending bill on Tuesday, a package cutting taxes, reducing social safety net programmes, and boosting military spending, while adding $3.3 trillion to the national debt. Trump expressed optimism on Tuesday about a potential trade deal with India but was skeptical about reaching a similar agreement with Japan. He added that he was not considering an extension of the July 9 deadline for countries to negotiate trade deals. Spot silver edged down 0.1% to $36.01 per ounce, platinum fell 0.4% to $1,344.91, while palladium gained 0.4% to $1,104.92.
