MDBCONNECTS 2019 - 1

penang aec 2030 NL - MY FIGURES

Makers & Drivers of Business & Commerce

JOHOR NETWORKING

MDBC’S STUDENT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM MARKS 1,000 PLACEMENTS!

ISSUE: 1st edition 2019

Malaysia

YOUR PROFIT CENTRE IN ASIA

Malaysia is a vibrant economy. Talk to MIDA and discover how Malaysia can be your Profit Centre in Asia.

For more information, please visit www.mida.gov.my or e-mail to investmalaysia@mida.gov.my

Pro-Business Government

Young, Trainable and Educated Labour Force

Liberal Business & Investment Environment

Sound Banking System

1

st

Quality of Life

2

nd

“Most Attractive Emerging Market in Asia”

“Ease of Doing Business within ASEAN”

(Bloomberg’s Emerging Market Scorecard, 2018)

(World Bank’s Doing Business Report, 2019)

Scan to connect with us

@officialMIDA

Political and Economic Stability

IP Protection

2

nd

“Global Competitiveness among ASEAN Countries” (World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report, 2018/2019)

Well-Developed Infrastructure/ Connectivity

Good Track Record

5

th

“Digital Readiness among Developing Asian Economies” (UNCTAD’s Business to Consumer, B2C, E-Commerce Index, 2018)

It’s not just our World Business Class seats that set us apart It’s our caring crew Our stewardess is just admiring Mr Johnson’s new grandson after serving him a night snack. Although Mr Johnson is enjoying the comfort of his full-flat seat, tonight the joy of a newborn keeps him awake. We guess nothing will make Mr Johnson happier.

But if there’s anything we can do for him, we are more than happy to - klm.my

CONTENTS MEMBERS

BIG STORY

MDBC EVENTS / 10

aN iNSIDE LOOK / 20

New Year’s Reception MDBC HR Forum 2018 Market Outlook 2019 Breakfast Talks

MDBC PENANG / 14

COMMUNITY

MDBC JOHOR / 15

STUDENT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM / 23

MEMBERs news / 17

EMBASSY NEWS / 24

MY Services / 33

eu / eumcci / 27

NEW MEMBERS / 34 SOCIAL / 38

DIALOGUE FLEXIBLE WORKING / 31

/14

/20 /24

Sometimes you need the ones who have explored the unbeaten path.

MDBC knows that it is the ones who think outside the box, who have walked the unbeaten path, who will inject new energy and fresh perspectives to your corporation.

As winner of the APAC Membership Engagement Program of the Year Award, we know how to engage with our members. That means we leverage on the relationship with you to put you in touch with the right candidate for you.

We are in the ideal position to connect these career seekers and the potential employers who are looking to diversify their workforce.

* Access a large talent pool of experienced professionals with an international background; * Opportunities for project based and flexible staff with specific expertise; * Enjoy hassle free match making to the best candidates for your needs.

Sign up for the MDBC Career Membership now.

If you have a permanent / temporary job or project you would like to fill, send us your job description. (www.mdbc.com.my/services/career_membership)

For more information, check us out on FB, Linked In, Twitter or at www.mdbc.com.my Malaysian Dutch Business Council Unit 808, 8th Floor | Wisma Lim Foo Yong Tel: +603 2722 8335 | info@mdbc.com.my

| 86 Jalan Raja Chulan 50200 Kuala Lumpur | www.mdbc.com.my

For more information, please contact us at: Jolande@mdbc.com.my / +603 - 2722 8335

1,000 SIP, NLinBusiness Quality mark, and continued growth Dear MDBC Members and Friends, Time has a way of moving quickly, and before you know it, years have passed us by. It seems like yesterday when I was approached to take up the Chairmanship of MDBC. That was 5 years ago! I agreed to be Chairman of the Council in January 2014 and I must confess, MDBC has indeed opened a window that adds a new dimension to my life.

From our humble beginnings in 1996, some 23 years ago, MDBC has grown into an established and respected trade and investment support organization, with regional Chapters in Penang and Johor. Our membership continues to grow, and by the time you read this, we hope to have reached 300 members.

I am pleased to note that year after year, MDBC continues to grow and achieve new milestones. Last year was no exception with yet another successfully organised MDBC Innovation and Sustainability Awards event.

Another noteworthy achievement is the successful placement of 1,000 Dutch student

interns by our Student Internship Program (SIP) since its inception in 2004. This “1,000 SIP” milestone, by any measure, is a commendable performance. These two initiatives will continue to be on our calendar for years to come.

In March 2019, MDBC became only the second Dutch Chamber in the world to receive the NLinBusiness quality mark, in an accreditation ceremony witnessed by H.E. Stef Blok (Netherlands Minister of Foreign Affairs), and H.E. Karin Mössenlechner (Netherlands Ambassador to Malaysia). It marks a significant milestone for MDBC, as besides being recognised as one of the leading Dutch Chambers in the world, with this accreditation, MDBC becomes part of the international NLinBusiness Hub network, giving us access to a resourceful global network. You will read all about this in the next edition.

Embassy, and various Malaysian Federal and State authorities.

MDBC continues to focus on its three key objectives for its stakeholders, i.e. Business Services, Representation, and Networking.

With the continued strong support from member companies, I have no doubt MDBC will continue to grow from strength to strength.

Zainul Rahim Chairman

Our success has been made possible by the sustained, strong economic ties between Malaysia and The Netherlands, our well established links with the Netherlands

MDBC BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mr. Zainul Rahim Mohd Zain, Chairman Hibiscus Petroleum Berhad

Ms. Annemarieke de Haan Unilever Malaysia

MDBC Executive Director: Mr. Marco Winter

Mr. Remco Koster, Vice Chairman Expandian

Mr. Koen van Gurp TalentSquare

Datuk Merlyn Kasimir Former CEO of Matrade

Mr. Tarang Gupta Dutch Lady Milk Industries

MDBC Patrons: Y.B. Ignatius Darell Leiking Minister of International Trade & Industry

Mr. Jack Ang Markant (M) Sdn Bhd

Mr. Ir. Ahmad Hadri Haris Shell Malaysia

Mr. Wouter van der Weijden &samhoud

Ms. Candice Bongers - de Bie Orbital Capital

Mr. Philip Kunjappy Sime Darby Plantation Berhad

Honorary Member of the Board: H.E. Ms. Karin Mössenlechner Netherlands Ambassador

Mr. Suerd Polderdijk Frames Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd

Ex - Officio Mr. Christoph Prommersberger Netherlands Embassy

Y.Bhg Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz Former Minister of International Trade & Industry Malaysian Dutch Business Council Unit 808, 8th Floor Wisma Lim Foo Yong 86 Jalan Raja Chulan 50200 Kuala Lumpur Tel : 603 - 2722 8335 Email : info@mdbc.com.my Website : www.mdbc.com.my

MDBCONNECTS 1ST ISSUE 2019

7

THE GOODNESS OF

5xDHA

*

FOR YOUR CHILD

4-STEP NUTRI PLAN www.smartmoments.com.my *Compared to previous formulated milk powder for children formulation (Year 2009).ˇ4-Step Nutri Plan™ includes Dutch Lady® Curious, Explore, Create and Learn formulated milk powder for children.

CALENDAR

May

WED 29 / 9:00Am

Tue 14 / 8:30Am

Edu 360: Masterclass Halal Supply Chain Management

Green Talks with Facilities Management Sunway iLabs

June

WED 15 / 9:00Am

Edu 360: Living & Working in Malaysia Cultural Impact

WED 19 / 7:00Am

Oil & Gas Briefing in conjunction with IRO’s Holland Pavilion at OGA 2019

WED 19 / 5:00Pm (TBC) MDBC AGM

NOTICE:

MDBC members will receive personal invitations for these functions by email once all details are confirmed.

All events/dates to be reconfirmed.

MDBC PREMIUM PARTNERS 2019

INTERMO ERS malays a

CMYK CODES: C:20, M:100, Y:100, K:0 C:100, M:100, Y:0, K:0 C:100, M:100, Y:25, K:30

MDBCONNECTS 1ST ISSUE 2019

9

Bringing all our members, stakeholders and communities together.

NEW YEAR’S RECEPTION 2019 MDBC members, along with guests from the corporate, government, diplomatic, and NGO sectors were invited to the annual MDBC / Netherlands Embassy New Year’s Reception. A chance to ring in the new year together, the reception was also an opportunity to welcome new members into the community.

This year’s reception, which was supported by Emborg, Heineken, Faber Flags, and Image Photography, featured the largest group of attendees ever, surely a sign of the continued growth of the Council.

Pictures right: Netherlands’ Ambassador H.E. Karin Mössenlechner and MDBC Executive Director Marco Winter presenting guests of honour YB Tuan Sim Tze Tzin (Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agro - based Industry) (top) and YB Dr. Ong Kian Ming (Deputy Minister of International Trade & Industry) (below) with some mandarin oranges to help kick off an auspicious new year.

More pictures on page 38.

frames-group.com

“Working together to energize the world”

10

•

PRODUCED WATER TREATMENT

•

FLOW CONTROL & SAFEGUARDING • BIOGAS UPGRADING

•

OIL & GAS SEPARATION

•

CO2 CAPTURE & UTILIZATION

•

OIL & GAS TREATMENT

•

SERVICES

MDBCONNECTS 1ST ISSUE 2019

•

HYDROGEN

HUMAN RESOURCES FORUM 2018

- Terence Ridder (Chief Operating Officer, LizardApps Malaysia): “Talent Development via Software: Industry, Structure, and Culture” - Toine Vaessen (Chief Executive Officer, PayrollPanda): “Cloud Payroll & HR: The Benefits of HR Automation for SMEs”

MDBC’s annual HR Forum which took place at Hilton Petaling Jaya at the end of last year focused on Technology in HR. With event partners International SOS, Randstad, and TalentCorp, the Forum was organized in an interactive format with presentations, panel discussions, and roundtable discussions between speakers, panelists, and the audience.

- Ryan Carroll (Country Manager, Randstad): “The Role of Automation, AI, and Augmented Intelligence in the World of Recruitment and HR” - David Ng (Country General Manager, International SOS): “Innovative Use of Technology in Global Mobility”

Attendees were able to ask indepth questions and discuss the matters further during the roundtable sessions which took place after the presentations.

Top left: Attendees listening to the presentations by invited industry experts.

Top right: Roundtable discussions with the speakers Bottom: Panel discussion l to r Sivakumeren Narayanan, Ryan Carroll, David Ng, Terence Ridder, Toine Vaessen, and moderator Marco Winter (Executive Director, MDBC)

In the digital era, technology increases work productivity and enhances communications, allowing individuals to be more effective. Technology changes the way HR departments contact employees, store files, and analyze employee performance. Good HR practices maximize the benefits and minimize the problems. Industry experts touched upon trending technologies in HR and how it helps organisations to make HR practices more efficient for General Management, HR Management, and other HR practitioners.

Featured speakers and topics included: - Sivakumeren Narayanan (Deputy Chief Executive Officer, TalentCorp): “Human Capital and the Future of Jobs”

MDBCONNECTS 1ST ISSUE 2019

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MDBC: MARKET OUTLOOK 2019

focused on business news and current affairs.

BFM also offers business education programs spanning areas like marketing, finance, technology, and business productivity to raise the management proficiency of the Malaysian business and professional community.

The resulting “Market Outlook 2019” featured three experts who shared their insights on the economic outlook for 2019.

How will equity markets perform in 2019? What will be the impact of the US - Chinese trade war and local political developments? What’s the outlook on other asset classes?

This is the fourth year in a row that MDBC has held its informative Outlook event. Always well received, this event

provides attendees with information and insights from experts, arming them with the tools necessary to prepare for the coming year.

This year, MDBC teamed up with BFM and merged the popular Outlook event with BFM’s Network Series. BFM is Malaysia’s only independent radio station, Top: Panel of speakers with moderator Malik Ali. Left: Many MDBC members and other sttendees enjoying some light refreshments and networking after the panel discussion.

MDBC / BCSDM: BREAKFAST TALKS MDBC partnered up with the Business Council for Sustainable Development Malaysia (BCSDM) for two Breakfast Talk sessions. The first event, which took place on 18 January, focused on Digital Ethics and Sustainability. Hosted by MDBC member Digi Telecommunications at their headquarters (D’House), this talk focused on whether organizations are doing enough to address the monumental risks in handling personal information entrusted to them.

With the onslaught of technological advances and evolutionary trends in digital connectivity, privacy and personal data are increasingly prized commodities. Society today is correspondingly more conscious and critical of how organizations use their personal information and have higher

expectations on responsible organisational conduct. In recent times, executives have been questioned and corporations brought down for less than stellar practices where the commodity of personal data is compromised. Corporate sustainability in this digital age is intrinsically tied to sufficiency in digital ethics.

The second Breakfast Talk, which took place on 21 March, focused on Sustainability and Business, and was hosted at MDBC member, Sunway Innovation Labs.

Panel speakers, moderated by BFM Founder and Managing Director Malik Ali, addressed all of these questions and also participated in a Q&A session with the audience.

Speakers for the event were: * Kit Wong (Chief Executive Officer, Lu International Singapore Financial Asset Exchange) * Tutiana Jusat (Chief Investment Officer, Amundi Asset Management) * Benny Lee (Chief Market Strategists, Equitiestracker) is vital for their survival. Sunny Verghese (CEO / Co - Founder, Olam International, and Chair of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)) shared his experience on leadership in sustainability and business with attendees.

Top: Presentations at the Talk on Digital Ethics & Sustainability Bottom: With attendees in the lobby of D’House

Despite growing calls globally from regulators and consumers for businesses to be more sustainable, many organizations still struggle with the concept of sustainability, their role in it, and why it MDBCONNECTS 1ST ISSUE 2019

13

Malaysian Dutch Business Council

PENANG

MDBC PENANG: CM DIALOGUE ON PENANG 2030 A copy of the presentation by the Penang State Government is available on the MDBC website at The Library.

MDBC’s latest Dialogue with the Chief Minister of Penang took place on 7 December 2018 at Hotel Equatorial Penang.

Hock (Chairman, FMM Penang), Dato’ Dr. Ooi Kee Beng (Executive Director, Penang Institute), and Michael Banks (Vice President - Operations APAC,Teleplan).

The Chief Minister of Penang, YAB Chow Kon Yeow spoke about Penang 2030: A Family Focused Green and Smart State to Inspire the Nation, the vision of the state government for the next decade.

Topics covered included: * Penang 2030 (specifically Theme 2): Upgrading the Economy to Increase the Income of Households - with sub topics related to digital, green economy, sustainable agriculture, tourism, creative industries, and business services; * Industry 4.0 / Digital Economy and Talent; * The Penang Transport Master Plan: Update on the latest developments and interaction between State and Private Sector on the implementation of the TMP.

The briefing was complemented by practical input from various experts and was followed by an interactive panel discussion which included the Chief Minister, H.E. Karin Mössenlechner (Ambassador, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands), Dato’ Dr. Kenny Ooi Eng

Left Top: YAB Chow Kon Yeow presenting his keynote address Top: Interactive panel discussion Middle: Guests at the Dialogue with the Penang Chief Minister Bottom left: H.E. Karin Mössenlechner Bottom right: Dato’ Dr. Ooi Kee Beng

MDBC PENANG: CHINESE NEW YEAR RECEPTION MDBC members and invited guests from government and corporate were treated to a special Chinese New Year reception at PARKROYAL Penang Resort on 7 March. Following its transformation after the RM 55 million refurbishment was completed, PARKROYAL Penang invited MDBC members for a tour of the resort, explaining the renovation. This was followed by a cocktail reception at the Sunset Bar. Additional photos from this event is available on page 39.

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MDBCONNECTS 1ST ISSUE 2019

Malaysian Dutch Business Council

JOHOR MDBC JOHOR: INTERCHAMBER NETWORKING MDBC organized an InterChamber networking on Thursday, 11 April with our colleagues from five other chambers: the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM), the British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (BMCC), the Malaysian Australia Business Council (MABC), the Malaysian - German Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MGCC), and the Malaysian French Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCIFM).

southern region.

Guest of honor YB Jimmy Puah Wee Tse (Johor State Executive Council Chairman of Investment and Utilities Committee) was invited to brief the l to r: Aubai Eliwy (BMCC), Raj Chawla (MABC), YB Jimmy Puah Wee Tse, Marco Winter (MDBC), Siobhan Das (AMCHAM), Daniel Bernbeck (MGCC), Michel Lozach (CCIFM), and Michael Chang from BIG WHEEL on stage as YB was being presented with a token of appreciation.

audience of more than 150 attendees on the latest developments, opportunities, and incentives of doing business in Johor. “The State of Johor received the highest amount of investments in 2018. We have to continue our initiatives to make sure that we continue to compete at the highest level in 2019,� YB Jimmy Puah announced.

The event kicked off what will be a stronger presence in Johor by all six chambers as the Iskandar region in Johor is among the fastest growing regions in Malaysia, outside the Klang Valley. The increasing number of businesses operating in the area means that the Chambers are keen on improving the support provided to members located in Johor and the

MDBCONNECTS 1ST ISSUE 2019

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Greater Kuala Lumpur The Epicentre of ASEAN

Greater Kuala Lumpur (Greater KL) writes its success through the numbers. It has the right number of talent, graduates, businesses, markets and opportunities. It has the best potential of any city in ASEAN, being strategically located in the region. Greater KL is now hub of the world’s fastest growing economic region. Here’s why leading Multinationals such as Schlumberger, Honeywell, IBM, Cargill, Philips, Worldline, Turner, Colas Rail, Linde and Epson have Recognised 1st in chosen Greater KL as the optimal Southeast Asia as a location for their Regional World Energy City Headquarters in ASEAN.

1

st

3

rd

Ranked 2nd in Southeast Asia for

Starting a Business & Ease of Doing Business

– Southeast Asia

Business Potential

Global Services Location Index

Excellent Ecosystem US$8 trillion of new

global middle class market rising in Asia by 2020 (OECD Observer)

2

nd

Competitiveness

(WECP)

3.2 billion

Greater KL by Numbers

2nd

Level of English proficiency in Asia (Education First)

infrastructure in Asia by 2020 (Asian Development Bank)

11th (Asia) 36th (World) Best Airport

74 double tax agreements offered in Malaysia (IKL)

ASEAN’s market

644,514,000 population,

US$2719.844 billion

273,373

graduates annually in Greater KL (IKL)

33.8 million

GDP (IKL)

US$1 trillion

in Oil & Gas upstream investment over next 2 years (Wood Mackenzie Ltd Report, 2016)

Malaysia’s population by 2020 - up 40% (IKL)

1.5 hrs journey time

from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore via high speed rail by 2026 (SPAD)

Lifestyle Friendly

165th 5th 23 38 44 58 Least Expensive City Worldwide

(Mercer Cost of Living Survey 2016 Most Expensive = 1)

Invest KL Corporation (957672-K)

Best Shopping Destination Worldwide

World Class Golf Courses

Museums and Art Galleries

International Schools

(IKL)

(IKL)

(IKL)

(Expedia, 2016)

16th Floor, Menara SSM@Sentral, No.7, Jalan Stesen Sentral 5

Public and Private Universities (IKL)

KL Sentral, 50623 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

www.investkl.com

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA Holland received a perfect score on the Global Logistics Rating in 2018.

Members News

1st Edition 2019

Members News

In 2018, 372 companies invested â‚Ź 2.84 billion in The Netherlands, creating almost 10,000 jobs.

Henry Goh & Co recognized as malaysia ip agency of the year 2019 Henry Goh was recognised as the Malaysia IP Agency of the Year 2019 at the Global Intellectual Property Awards. The Award ceremony recognised outstanding achievement in IP litigation, prosecution, and transactional work.

Henry Goh is both honored and delighted to add this illustrious feather to their cap. It is made possible by the hard work and dedication of their able team of IP professionals and staff. Last but not least, they would like to record their heartfelt thanks to all of their clients, associates, and peers (including fellow MDBC members) for sharing their journey.

Simply enak attends itb berlin MDBC member Simply Enak recently attended the ITB Trade Show in Berlin, Germany. As the largest Tourism Trade Show in the world, ITB Berlin proved to be a valuable networking opportunity for Simply Enak, who also marketed their new Ipoh food tour which will be launched this year. This was the second time that Simply Enak has attended ITB Berlin, having participated this year together

with Tourism Malaysia and MATTA, the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents. This year’s ITB conference in Berlin proved to be a valuable networking

occasion for Simply Enak, enabling them to meet the right people and find other businesses to collaborate with, which is eesential to growth in travel and tourism.

MDBCONNECTS 1ST ISSUE 2019

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Members News

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

1st Edition 2019

launch of the international university of malaya - wales (iumw) engagement with its stakeholders, particularly with the corporate sector, industry leaders, and associations.

IUMW Vice Chancellor Tay Kay Luan said, “As a private university, we still need to satisfy our shareholders’ appetite for more program offerings. We will be offering professional courses to our alumni and undergraduate professional programs, as part of their lifelong learning experience”.

The establishment of a business school reflects IUMW’s transformation into an academic and professional educational institution. It improves the university’s

On 22 April 2019 the International University of Malaya - Wales (IUMW) Business School was launched by IUMW Chancellor Tan Sri Dr. Tony Fernandes.

IUMW is a private university located in Kuala Lumpur and was established based on a mutual partnership between the University of Malaya, Malaysia and the University of Wales, UK. It offers an array of programs to both local and international students.

Black Point implements WoTF & Green building offices for clients With a proven track record, MDBC member Black Point was recently given the opportunity to implement the work

place of the future (WOTF) program for Ernst & Young Malaysia, pictured left.

The new workplace focuses on “Activity

Based Working”, which provides a variety of individual / heads down work points as well as group / collaborative work spaces to support a spectrum of tasks.

They also took on the design and build services for the Reinsurance Group of America (RGA), pictured right, who is the first tenant in Menara Etiqa. With the Green Building requirement, the layout was designed so that employees enjoy an external view and receive an optimum amount of natural sunlight.

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MDBCONNECTS 1ST ISSUE 2019

Ramadan Dining made easier, purchase & pay for the vouchers online

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

Members News

1st Edition 2019

KLM marks 100 years of aviation economically viable manner.

Above: The flyby Below: The special commemorative coin and special 100 year anniversary stamp

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, together with GKN Fokker, and the Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) recently jointly marked their centenary at the EYE Film Museum in Amsterdam on 14 March.

It was at that location, precisely 100 years ago, that the First Aviation Exhibition Amsterdam (ELTA) was held. King Willem - Alexander of The Netherlands was on hand to mint a special commemorative coin, and Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, Netherlands Minister of

Infrastructure and Water Management was presented with a special series of aviation postage stamps. There was also a flypast of modern and vintage aircrafts over the waters of the IJ, behind Amsterdam Central Station.

“Over the past 100 years, KLM has earned a superb reputation in international air transport. We have always embodied the typical Dutch pioneering and enterprising spirit, which remains an integral part of our brand. I look back on the past 100 years with pride, but also look forward with confidence to the challenges we face on the road ahead,” shared Pieter Elberts (President & CEO, KLM) King Willem - Alexander also met with students participating in a special challenge for the centenary year; the students presented their innovative ideas for a number of sustainability issues.

Speakers commemorated the contribution these Dutch pioneers made to international civil aviation, and also discussed the challenges facing airlines in The Netherlands, which are committed to operating in a smart, sustainable, and

MDBC TEAM BUILDING DAY The MDBC team recently held a team building day in close cooperation with several of our members. Starting early in the morning, our first activity was to team up with the guys from MikeBikes to experience their famous Discover Kuala Lumpur tour on real Dutch (and orange!) bikes. With a guide leading the way at the front, and another guide at the back of the pack, we took off to see Kampung Bahru, Petaling Street, Merdeka Square, and the River of Life project up close and personal.

we enjoyed a few drinks at the most happening place in KL: the stylish WET® Deck on level 12, with the Petronas Towers up close as a stunning, picturesque backdrop, completing an intense but fruitful and very enjoyable day!

Lunch time saw the team in awe of the W Kuala Lumpur’s Presidential Suite where we were pampered with a special lunch and took the time to participate in the Action for Happiness workshop by Sabrina Lou. After the lunch break it was time to head back out, this time by foot, for a truly Malaysian food experience; Pauline of Simply Enak took us on a culinary tour to discover food in the most authentic way through the markets of Chow Kit. There was a lot of sampling along the way and the tour ended with a tasty dinner.

Heading back to W Kuala Lumpur, MDBCONNECTS 1ST ISSUE 2019

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AN INSIDE LOOK: MDBC SIP MANAGER - JOLANDE JONGE POERINK MDBC’s Student Internship Program has recently reached the milestone of coordinating its 1,000th placement in Malaysia of a Dutch student intern. On this occasion, An Inside Look features MDBC SIP Manager Jolande Jonge Poerink.

Jolande Jonge Poerink has been the Student Internship Program (SIP) Manager since she joined MDBC in 2011. Having originally moved to Singapore in 2005 with her husband Henk Jan and their three children (the fourth was born in Singapore), they moved to Malaysia in 2010 when Henk Jan joined Besi Apac, a Dutch multinational publicly traded company in the semiconductor industry.

Having worked in recruitment and human resources back in The Netherlands (primarily at KLM), she is also responsible for the MDBC Career Membership, which supports partners of expats trying to find employment in Malaysia.

MDBC: When you first joined MDBC, what was the status of SIP?

JJP: From the beginning of SIP in 2004 until I joined in 2010, Marco Winter had coordinated the program, usually with the assistance of an MDBC student intern.

With 60 - 70 placements per year and a growing number of partner universities in The Netherlands, and placement companies here in Malaysia, the program had become too comprehensive so MDBC needed to expand on the SIP team.

The first few years, we maintained one intern for SIP support but as of a few years ago we added a SIP executive to the team, which is filled on a part time basis by the partner of an expat. I’m sure you will meet Janine van Bon, the SIP Executive, at an MDBC event. Many of you may also be familiar with Patti Tan from FreeStyle Communication, who has been appointed by the MDBC Board of Directors to assist our companies with the student work visa applications.

MDBC: Where is / what is the status of SIP now?

JJP: SIP has grown significantly! Since 2011 / 2012 we have placed approximately 100 Dutch students every year. We also assist approximately 25 other Dutch students each year who have found an internship in Malaysia on their own initiatives, by giving them the opportunity to enroll in our support program and ac-

tivities. Since 2004, we have coordinated more than 1,000 placements and assisted another 200 students for a total of more than 1,200 student engagements here in Malaysia.

MDBC: What SIP achievement / milestone are you most proud of so far?

JJP: I am quite proud of the fact that with the help of all MDBC members and our Dutch partner universities, so many Dutch students have gotten the opportunity to experience working in Malaysia. Most of them said that their time in Malaysia is something they will never forget. This is also the most rewarding part of my job, to help young people and give them the opportunity to have an unforgettable experience.

For many years now, around 96% of the students have recommend SIP to other students, it’s a sign we’re doing things right.

In September 2018 we organized a big student reunion in Amsterdam to celebrate the more than 1,000 students that have undertaken an internship in Malaysia. It was great to see so many students again, with many of them having moved on to good jobs at companies like Dutch Lady, Heineken, Ernst & Young, Royal Haskoning, and Rabobank to name a few.

Additionally, MDBC won the APAC 2018 International Chambers of Commerce Awards - Membership Engagement of the Year 2018 Award. It was acknowledged that our Student Internship Program was an important element for winning this award. Also, MDBC has been acknowledge by NLinBusiness as one of top Dutch Chambers in the world. At a recent accreditation ceremony, in the presence of the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, MDBC became the second Dutch Chamber in the world to received the NLinBusiness quality mark; SIP was specifically mentioned as a unique service of MDBC. MDBC: While it is fairly obvious what some of the bigggest benefits of SIP are, what would you say is the most under - appreciated benefit of SIP? JJP: Companies have different reasons why they like to work with Dutch student interns. Sometimes, they require a student to look into a problem at their company and come up with solutions. A good example of this is an intern who calculated the most efficient way to ship products to other countries. We’ve also had another intern at a member company who organized the

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MDBCONNECTS 1ST ISSUE 2019

AN INSIDE LOOK company’s warehouse in the most efficient way, another developed a new financial model.

There have also been many students who help with (online) marketing and search engine optimization (SEO). Also, the fact that these students come from a different culture / background helps add important intercultural skills, it benefits everyone on staff because they all learn from and interact with each other, furthering their horizons. It’s applicable for the student interns but also for the company’s permanent staff.

MDBC: How can companies maximize the benefit of onboarding a student intern?

JJP: We find that in general, if you spend a bit more time with the student at the beginning of the internship, you get better results out of the student during the internship.

MDBC: What kind of long(er) term impact has SIP had on the students who participate in the program?

JJP: Although it is very important for the interns to mingle with Malaysian and other non - Dutch people during their internship, I find it’s also nice to involve them in the activities that the Dutch community organizes in Malaysia, but only, of course, if they’re interested.

Many of them have joined the Dutch hockey teams in Kuala Lumpur (KL) at the training practices as well as ZOAT (the annual Southeast Asian hockey tournament for Dutch amateur players which takes place every year in a different Southeast Asian capital). A lot of them have also played futsal and soccer with the other Dutch (and non - Dutch) expats. Many also volunteer to help at the Sinterklaas, King’s Day, and Liberation Day celebrations. This helps them gain insight into the life of living abroad more permanently. For the Dutch community, the energy the interns bring into the community is also contagious.

This all adds a lot to their internship experience here in Malaysia. The personal growth the students make by living abroad for a couple of months is incredible. They have to get outside of their comfort zone to live and work 10,000 km away for half a year. Some students arrive in Malaysia as children and leave the country as grown ups. They have learned to work with people from different cultural backgrounds, learned about other habits and customs, experienced different foods, etc. For the rest of their lives they will never forget this valuable experience. It also helps their resume stand out and be more attractive when they apply for permanent jobs after their studies.

MDBC: What kind of long(er) term impact

Picture taken during the SIP reunion in Amsterdam late last year to mark the 1,000th placement in Malaysia of Dutch student interns under MDBC’ Student Internship Program

has SIP had on the companies that participate in the program?

JJP: The bottom line is that SIP would not have become this comprehensive and successful if the students had not made a valuable impact at the companies who provide their placements and invest in these students. This is not a charity or CSR program, the companies invest time and money in these interns. From the number of member - companies that continue with SIP from one intake to another, often even expanding their number of interns from 1 to 2, or even to 3 or 4 in different departments, we can see that SIP has become an integral part of their company operations, the projects and tasks that the students undertake have been proven beneficial, either in terms of business development, research, cost - savings, operational excellence, or other. Occasionally, we see student interns return to work for these companies after graduation, either in Malaysia or in The Netherlands.

MDBC: What is an unexpected byproduct of the program?

JJP: During their internship here, most students will receive visitors: their parents, siblings, partner and or friends, which means that the program has really boosted tourism in Malaysia to a certain extent. It is estimated that approximately 5,000 extra tourists visited Malaysia because of SIP! Many former students have also informed us that former colleagues and Malaysian friends visited them in The Netherlands.

On the social side, over the years quite a few Dutch students have found a life partner in Malaysia. Subsequently, they have either moved to Malaysia on a permanent basis after graduation, or their Malaysian partner moved to The Netherlands. SIP has existed for 15 years so of course, over

time we have seen a few “SIP marriages” and even some “SIP babies”!

Based on the annual results of the surveys we conduct at the end of their internships, around 96% of the students would recommend SIP and have truly enjoyed, and learned from their stay in Malaysia. The more than 1,200 people who have done an internship in Malaysia are excellent ambassadors for Malaysia when they return to The Netherlands. In their professional career they will look for opportunities to establish business contacts with Malaysia, they will attend Malaysia / ASEAN seminars that are organized in The Netherlands, and of course, we also meet some of the former students at the annual Malaysian Food Fair held at the Malaysian Embassy in The Hague, which means that they are still craving Malaysian food!

MDBC: Having surpassed 1,000 placements, we are now entering the next stage of development / growth for SIP. What plans do you have for this next stage?

JJP: Based on our own internal capacity and the number of vacancies available at our member companies, we do not expect a higher quantity of placements, but we will continue to strive for the best possible quality in the matches which are made.

We also aim to make the program as efficient as possible for all parties involved (companies, students, universities). With the support and involvement of MDBC members, MDBC partner universities, and the Malaysian immigration authorities, I hope that we can continue to give as many Dutch students the same opportunity for a similarly wonderful life and work experience in Malaysia!

SIP History pictures on page 23.

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Tel : +603 7841 4843 Email : marketing@misi.edu.my IPTS Certified Code: DU027(B)

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STUDENT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM Seetek The SIP Experiences of Robbert - Jan Top at Seetek EMS. Robbert - Jan Top is a fourth year student of Industrial Engineering and Management at the Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen. Some friends introduced him to MDBC and the Student Internship Program after he asked them about internship opportunities.

His interest in international business and major in International Technology Management led him to be matched with MDBC member Seetek EMS. Seetek EMS is a production company located in mainland Penang. It’s part of a leading international organization in the production of amplifiers, supplies, and Digital Signal Processors (DSPs) of the highest quality.

Seetek will be moving their production location from Parit Buntar to Nibong Tebal.

Because of the new location, the production set - up and warehouse location will

also change, resulting in a change in the efficiency of the production.

The focus of Robbert - Jan’s internship is to see if there is an efficiency change in the new production location, as compared to the old location. Due to the relocation, he had the opportunity to see a lot of different facets within the company and has also had the opportunity to work with a lot of different people outside of the organization.

When asked about his experience so far, Robbert - Jan shared, “I work with a lot of locals, which is a wonderful experience and a great opportunity to learn more about Malaysian culture. The company itself is also really welcoming, it’s made me feel like I’ve worked here for much longer than I actually have.”

When asked about their experience with the program and with Robbert - Jan, they shared, “Together with Robbert - Jan we defined an assignment in which he could do research into the efficiency of our production flow, comparing the previous and new situation. This gives us useful insights and allows us to make better decisions when it comes to optimizing our new factory layout.”

“Additionally, he has given us a welcomed helping hand with guiding the actual move.

The flexibility and ability to work independently makes Robbert - Jan’s internship a real value - add for our organization. For Robbert - Jan, we know that it has provided a great experience abroad, learning to deal with cultural differences, and applying the knowledge from his studies to a real - life situation here at Seetek”, they added.

SIP: A PHOTO HISTORY

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NETHERLANDS EMBASSY NEWS

Trade and Investment Relations Between In 2018 trade in goods between The Netherlands and Malaysia amounted to a total of €7.87 billion. Imports from Malaysia rose 1.1% to an amount of €6.76 billion, while exports totaled €1.1 billion, which is 20.8% less than the exceptional export numbers reported in 2017, but still 33% more than five years ago. As a result, Malaysia enjoyed a €5.65 billion trade surplus in 2018.

Dutch investments in Malaysia increased with impressive numbers last year.

Machinery Dominates Trade in Goods Trade between The Netherlands and Malaysia remains dominated by machinery, electronics and transport equipment, both in terms of imports and exports.

In 2018, 56% of total goods imported from Malaysia to The Netherlands was electric machinery including semiconductor devices (€3.5 billion).

Telecommunication equipment took up another important share of the Malaysian export basket to The Netherlands, accounting for €1.1 billion or 18% of total imports. As in previous years, chemicals (€560 million) and goods related to palm oil (€426 million) completed Malaysia’s export portfolio. In 2018, 18% of total palm oil imports to The Netherlands came from Malaysia. The Netherlands is the third largest importer of Malaysian palm oil after China and India.

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MDBCONNECTS 1ST ISSUE 2019

Diverse Dutch Export Basket On the other hand, Malaysia also remains an important market for Dutch machinery

and transport equipment, with an export value of €493 million in 2018, or 44% of total goods exported to Malaysia. The

NETHERLANDS EMBASSY NEWS

The Netherlands and Malaysia in 2018

Dutch export basket is more diverse than its Malaysian counterpart.

Next to machineries, Malaysia is a popular export destination for Dutch food products and live animals, which reached a value of €154 million in 2018 or 14% of total exports. Dairy exports, among them, increased 44% to an amount of €25 million, €29 million worth of Dutch vegetables and fruit, and €19 million worth of Dutch meat and meat preparations found their way to

Malaysia in 2018. As in other years, Malaysia remained an important export destination for petroleum (€156 million) and chemicals (€129 million) from The Netherlands.

With these numbers, Malaysia remains the second largest trading partner of The Netherlands within ASEAN, leaving only Singapore ahead as the regional transhipment hub. Especially in terms of exports to The Netherlands, Malaysia reports higher numbers than regional

economies like Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

As an export destination for Dutch products, the gap with neighboring countries becomes smaller. However, considering the size of Malaysia’s population in comparison to its neighbors, the trade numbers remain impressive.

Investment in Manufacturing In terms of investments, The Netherlands is among Malaysia’s most important partners. In 2018, Dutch investments in manufacturing have tripled, accounting for 14.4% of total foreign investments.

Spread over 10 projects, total Dutch investments reached an amount of €1.7 billion, leaving only China (€4.1 billion) and Indonesia (€1.8 billion) ahead. In alignment with the trade in goods, the main target of investment is Malaysia’s electrical and electronic products (E&E) industry.

(Based on MIDA data. ECB exchange rate 2018 used for currency conversion: RM1 = €0.21)

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EUMCCI

EUMCCI: VIP LUNCHEON WITH SUSTAINABILITY LEADERS sustainability? Invited speakers included: * Best Sustainable Palm Oil Leader: Sime Darby Plantation Berhad * Best Innovation in Sustainability: Pakar Go Green Sdn Bhd * Best Social Impact (Large Company): University Malaysia Sabah * Best Social Impact (SME): Cenviro Sdn Bhd * Best Environmental Impact (Large Company): Bahru Stainless Sdn Bhd * Best Environmental Impact (SME): One - Tech (M) Sdn Bhd * Best Sustainability Leader: Raj Ridvan Singh Winners of the 2018 Europa Awards for Sustainability at the In Conversation With: Sustainability Leaders event. Front Row, l to r: Attyyah Ameemah Azni (Pakar Go Green), Wan Imirah Othman (Cenviro), Prof Dr. Rossita Shapawi (University Malaysia Sabah), Rashyid Redza Anwarudin (Sime Darby Plantation) Back Row, l to r: Harith Ridzuan (One - Tech), Raj Ridvan Singh (Sols 24/7), Roberto Benetello (EUMCCI), Angel Javier Mielgo Benavides (Bahru Stainless)

On 3 April, the EU - Malaysia Chamber of Commerce & Industry (EUMCCI), in collaboration with MDBC, organized the In Conversation With: Sustainability Leaders. Winners of the 2018 Europa Awards for Sustainability were invited to share their knowledge and award

winning initiatives / projects with the audience to help answer questions such as: How optimistic do sustainability and energy professionals feel about the year ahead? How are business commitments developing and changing across key areas such as renewable energy and social

The event also included a luncheon with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Leaders. The Keynote address was delivered by Ahmad Rizah (Deputy Director 1 - Environmental Economy & Natural Resources Division, Ministry of Economic Affairs), titled “Current Implementation of SDGs in Malaysia”.

Attendees were also able to participate in roundtable discussions with the winners.

EU - Malaysia Trade & Investment Forum 2019 The annual EUMCCI EU - Malaysia Trade & Investment Forum took place on 16 April with the theme “How Will Malaysia Withstand a Global Slowdown?”.

Economic indicators show that the world economy will slow down in 2019.

Apart from cyclical predictive modelling, other factors may contribute to worsening the slowdown, such as the enduring US - China trade war, the stagnation of the EU, and the slower growth of the Chinese economy. Furthermore, Brexit, oil prices, and commodity markets may play a role.

In a heavily interconnected world, global trends have implications on regional ones.

The region is affected indirectly due to its interdependence on supply chains with China and the flows of trade between the latter and ASEAN. Nevertheless, there are opportunities for short term wins, like factories moving out of China and setting up in Southeast Asia.

The Trade & Investment Forum 2019 provided a high level dialogue opportunity

for the business community to meet Malaysian policy makers and government representatives. It was also the occasion for the launch of the annual EUMCCI Trade Issues and Recommendations book.

The event also had an “In Conversation With” that featured the following speakers (pictured with copies of the Trade Issues and Recommendations book which

were presented to them after the panel): * Indranil Lahiri (President & CEO, Siemens Malaysia) * YBhg Datuk Zainal Ahmanshah (CEO, InvestKL) * Abrar Anwar (CEO, Standard Chartered Malaysia) * Moderator: Lau Zheng Zhou (Director / Head of Centre for Policy Studies, ASLI)

MDBCONNECTS 1ST ISSUE 2019

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EU

EU NEWS: EIB SUPPORTS USD 1 BILLION ASEAN CLIMATE FINANCE INITIATIVE

Above: ADB President Mr. Takehiko Nakao (standing, fifth from left), Thailand Minister of Finance Mr. Apisak Tantivorawong (standing, sixth from left), ASEAN Ministers of Finance and senior officials, and representatives from development and private sector partners during the launch of the ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility in Chiang Rai. Thailand is ASEAN chair in 2019.

Luca Lazzaroli (Director General, European Investment Bank (EIB)) formally agreed EIB support for a new USD 1 billion initiative intended to strengthen investment in green infrastructure across Southeast Asia.

The new ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility launched at the ASEAN Finance Ministers Meeting which took place recently in Chiang Rai, Thailand. It aims to tackle investment challenges holding back sustainable transport, clean energy, and water projects, and to accelerate private sector financing for green investment. Lazzaroli signed an agreement that outlines cooperation and support for the ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility with representatives of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and ASEAN Infrastructure Fund during the five day regional visit.

“The European Investment Bank, the Bank of the European Union, is committed to enabling our unique technical and financial experience to help the global community to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement and tackle a changing climate. In the coming years, Southeast Asia requires huge infrastructure investment, needed both to help reduce carbon emissions, and protect infrastructure against a changing climate. EIB welcomes the new ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility and looks forward to strengthening cooperation with Asian and international partners to accelerate financing for transformational projects across the region,� said Andrew McDonald, EIB Vice President responsible for South Asia.

The European Union reaffirms its continued support to regional integration and welcomes the creation of the ASEAN

Catalytic Green Finance Facility. Across the region, water and air pollution, environmental degradation, and a more extreme climate regularly threatens lives, holds back economic activity, and hinders the achievement of sustainable development goals.

The ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility will enable private sector investors to support green projects by using public funds to reduce investor risks and strengthen project design and implementation. It is part of the ASEAN Infrastructure Fund, a regional financing initiative established by ASEAN governments and ADB in 2011; it isadministered by ADB and since its establishment, has committed USD 520 million for energy, transport, water, and urban infrastructure projects across the region.

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WORK, MEET AND CONNECT WHEREVER YOUR BUSINESS TAKES YOU We have built an unparalleled network of o�ce, co-working and meeting spaces for companies to use in every city in the world.

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DIALOGUE

REGUS: Why flexibility alone isn’t enough.

Modern businesses are aspiring to not only be flexible, but agile also.

But what’s the difference, and why does it matter?

“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change,” Einstein once said, and it’s a concept widely recognised by businesses today in conversations about flexibility and agility. But while these terms are often used interchangeably, they refer to two very different business capabilities.

Agility is described as ‘the ability to move quickly and easily’ while flexibility points at ‘the ability to change.’ For long - term success, businesses should be prepared for both.

Recent political events in the UK, US and other key global markets have shown that the socio-political environment is becoming ever more unpredictable. It goes without saying that events in key markets have ripple effects on businesses around the world, and it has led to many developing contingency plans that involve significant changes, such as migrating head offices or key manufacturing plants.

Others are taking a longer - term view, reviewing their entire business model to make sure it is prepared to withstand both the current challenges on the table and any changes that may follow. In other words, they are aspiring to not only be a flexible business, but an agile one.

So what’s the benefit of taking a more agile approach? The answer: accuracy.

As entrepreneurs and business leaders

know, when and how to act can be the difference between success and failure. A businessman’s ability to read the market, read the room, and calculate the optimum moment to launch a brand, a product, or a proposal is essential to success.

Flexibility is just as important, as it’s inevitable that businesses will pivot and modify processes as they go along, and this shouldn’t be avoided. But by having an agile business, business can future - proof themselves because they are establishing a model that is built to change. Businesses that are modelled on rigid structures, processes and a fixed understanding of the world will take twice as long to react and adapt, losing time and putting them squarely behind the competition.

In the years to come, there’s no question that businesses will have to adapt to unpredictable and challenging changes to our society. The International Monetary Fund’s April report referred to slowing economic activity in that month alone, due to a range of factors affecting major economies.

To name but a few: China faces increasing regulation and trade tensions with the US, Europe is dealing with weak consumer and business demand and Japan has had to manage natural disasters. With an increasingly unpredictable environment, it seems obvious that if a business does not embrace agility it will fail. But how does a static business become an agile business?

According to research from IWG, this can not only reduce the CapEx and OpEx associated with a fixed office space, but increase speed to market and help businesses consolidate portfolios.

Flexible working also helps businesses to attract and retain talent, which according to Deloitte, can cost businesses from tens of thousands of dollars to 1.5 – 2.0x the employee’s annual salary. This research also shows that agile businesses are more productive – 85% globally think that a more flexible approach has increased productivity in their business.

It will come as no surprise that agile leaders also make agile businesses.

Steve Jobs once said: “Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes. It is best to admit them quickly and get on with improving your other innovations.”

The story of Steve Jobs’ own success is evidence that this statement is true.

Thanks to the recent film title that bears his name, Jobs’ grit and determination to continually adapt his business model until Apple achieved success is now world famous.

Are you leading your business towards greater agility? To find out more about how flexible workspace can help, visit www.regus.com.my

One step to agility is giving employees choice on how and where they work.

MDBCONNECTS 1ST ISSUE 2019

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CHAMPIONING MALAYSIA’S DIGITAL ECONOMY We are MDEC, the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation.

We champion the Malaysia’s digital economy. Our role is to build a vibrant digital economy and ensure that Malaysia plays a leading part in the global digital revolution. We are passionate about digital technology and its potential to transform the future of our nation and the world.

MY SERVICES - BUSINESS SERVICES Not all MDBC member-companies are involved in bilateral trade or investments; a very important part of the MDBC community is our service providers. They provide the services (or products) which all organisations, and often especially the potential Dutch investors in Malaysia, require. The ease of doing business within the MDBC community has substantially increased thanks to our service providers. This page is specially dedicated to them.

EDUCATION MISI

TRADING BARENA GROUP SDN. BHD.

MANPOWER SERVICES BRUNEL ENERGY (MALAYSIA)

2A, Persiaran Tebar Layar Seksyen U8, Bukit Jelutong 40150 Shah Alam Selangor Darul Ehsan

Level 26 Menara Maxis Kuala Lumpur City Center 50088 Kuala Lumpur

25.2, Level 25 Menara Standard Chartered 30 Jalan Sultan Ismail 50250 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: +603 - 7841 4800 marketing@misi.edu.my www.misi.edu.my

Tel: +603 - 2615 2608 admin@barenagroup.com www.barenagroup.com

Tel: +603 - 2144 3451 energy-malaysia@brunel.net www.brunel.net

The Malaysia Institute for Supply Chain Innovation (MISI), was launched as a joint initiative between MIT and the government of Malaysia in 2011. MISI is an independent, stand - alone degree granting university and is a member of the MIT Global SCALE (Supply Chain And Logistics Excellence) Network. MISI offers Masters (full & part time) and PhD programs in Supply Chain Management (SCM).

Barena Group specializes in the import and export of natural and synthetic rubber around the world. Our relationship with premium producers and clients ensures delivery on our commitments and prudence in our business approach.

Barena is a member of the following rubber industry authorities: Malaysian Rubber Board, Rubber Trade Association of Europe, and the International Rubber Study Group.

CONSULTING

HOTEL

CULTURAL IMPACT B1 - 42 - 8 Soho Suites@KLCC 20 Jalan Perak 50450 Kuala Lumpur Tel: +6017 - 230 5199 info@culturalimpact.org www.culturalimpact.org Cultural Impact is a boutique consulting company with a mission of assisting global clients develop an organizational culture based on intercultural effectiveness and collaborative leadership in order to maximize corporate performance and talent retention.

We combine experience in organizational development and leadership skills development.

Brunel Energy Malaysia has been providing Manpower Services to the Oil & Gas Industries for both downstream and upstream projects. It has the infrastructure to supply qualified engineering personnel to operating companies and international contractors alike, with the flexibility to support contract manpower or permanent assignments with all the in - country support services.

W KUALA LUMPUR 121 Jalan Ampang 50450 Kuala Lumpur Tel: +603 - 2786 8899 whotels.com/kualalumpur Bringing the bold to the pulse of the city. Blazing ahead and redefining the hotel scene in downtown Kuala Lumpur, adjacent to the world renowned Petronas Twin Towers. Discover W Kuala Lumpur and revel in our signature Whatever / WheneverÂŽ experience. Make yourself at home in any of our 150 guest rooms with cutting edge interior design, overlooking the city skyline. Connect via High Speed Internet Access, play your favorite music on a bluetooth sound bar and watch the TV in the state - of - the - art entertainment system.

NEED A RELIABLE PARTNER FOR KEY BUSINESS SERVICES? THESE MDBC MEMBERS ARE JUST A PHONE CALL AWAY! MDBCONNECTS 1ST ISSUE 2019

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NEW MEMBERS

WARM WELCOME

As always, we constantly expand to include new and interesting partners as part of our international community of business professionals, allowing our members to find more opportunities for success.

To that end, we would like to extend a very warm welcome to the MDBC Community for the following new members:

ART OF SUPPLY CHAIN

THE ASEAN POST

27 CAPITAL

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MDBCONNECTS 1ST ISSUE 2019

Business Activity: Art of Supply Chain is a training and consultancy company focused on Supply Chain Operations. Bringing you the knowledge to prepare your supply chain for the future. It offers everything you need to tackle your supply chain problems right, the first time, by improving operations quality through Lean Six Sigma, managing projects effectively and efficiently, and advising customers on technological advancements to stay ahead of the competition. Art of Supply Chain assists SMEs to MNCs reduce waste, improve their bottom line, and make informed decisions for the future.

Corporate Representation Jeroen Hendriks, Consultant / Trainer CONTACT: 30 Jalan Putra Permai 10 / 2c Putra Heights 47650 Subang Jaya Selangor Darul Ehsan Tel: +6019 - 231 1905 E mail: jeroen@artofsupplychain.biz Website: artofsupplychain.biz

Business Activity: The ASEAN Post is a technology - driven, communications and intelligence platform, which curates analytical content that expertly frames critical issues shaping the future of Southeast Asia - including geopolitics, renewable energy, markets, technology, the Belt and Road Initiative, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. We produce thought provoking insights driven by data gathered from our partners, think tanks, research institutes, and international economic organisations.

This unique collaboration enables us to empower and influence decision makers whilst driving engagment.

Corporate Representation Rohan Ramakrishnan, Founder & CEO Azizi Meor Ngah, Chairman

Business Activity: We believe the pathway to delivering value begins with the development and fostering of a mutually beneficial relationship with our clients at both shareholder and senior management levels. This allows us to gain a solid understanding of our clients’ strategic objectives, challenges they may be facing or opportunities they wish to explore in fulfilling these strategic priorities. We see ourselves as our clients’ advisor and partner in realizing their business objectives through corporate transactions, be it acquisitions, divestments, fund raising, corporate, or operational restructuring.

Corporate Representation Girish Ramachandran, Executive Director Fiona Soh, Executive Director

CONTACT: 1 Persiaran Teknologi Subang Subang Hi - Tech Industrial Park 47500 Subang Jaya Selangor Darul Ehsan Tel: +603 - 5633 4088 E mail: rohan.ramakrishnan@theaseanpost.com Website: www.theaseanpost.com

CONTACT: 63 - 2, 2nd Floor Jalan Bangkung Bangsar Baru 59100 Kuala Lumpur Tel: +603 - 2201 9959 E mail: elaine@27advisory.com.my Website: www.27advisory.com.my

NEW MEMBERS

EXPANDIAN LIMITED

GREEN PLANET MIDORI SDN BHD

ICRON TECHNOLOGIES

INTERNATIONAL SOS

Business Activity: Expandian is a boutique beachhead business development firm supporting regional establishment and expansion of ambitious tech companies that want to grow their business globally. Expandian was founded by two experienced business executives with high - tech leadership backgrounds and expansive regional and global networks. With local representation and offices in Malaysia and The Netherlands, Expandian is ready to help technology businesses kick - start business expansion and global sales, whether they are a start - up, or looking to scale - up.

Corporate Representation Remco Koster, Managing Partner

Business Activity: Green Planet Midori is the Southeast Asian sole distributor for Midorie products based in Malaysia. We are authorized by Suntory & Toyota to open up a new market in Southeast Asia. In an effort to promote an eco - friendly and green environment, we educate and supply revolutionary green technology products to a wide range of industries such as agriculture, advertising, retail, architecture, construction, design, and more. We are specialists in Landscape, Vertical Wall, and Table Plants. Our aim is to improve air quality, and encourage mood change and positive energy.

Corporate Representation Desmond Seok Leong Yew, Group Managing Director Nelson Seok Leong Cheong, Finance Head

Business Activity: ICRON is a leading provider of Optimized Decision Making and Supply Chain Optimization software solutions. ICRON has a single mission - to help our customers visualize, synchronize, and optimize their end - to - end supply chain operations and enable them to make optimized decisions that improve their productivity and profitability.

ICRON’s software platform, proven through over 500 successful implementations in some of the world’s largest corporations across various industries to achieve decision centric optimization.

Corporate Representation Sanjay Nair, Regional Director Shermaine Liu, Marketing Manager

Business Activity: International SOS provides health and security solutions for organisations who have employees around the world. We help companies prepare their workforce for travel to unfamiliar and remote locations, and provide training and guidance on travel risk management to help keep workers healthy and safe, wherever they may be. When your situation requires a more active response, our highly trained teams use their knowledge of procedures and policies around the world to help provide global medical assistance and security measures.

Corporate Representation David Ng, Managing Director Wendy Chan, Head of Sales & Marketing

CONTACT: Unit Level 14 (B) / 14 (C) Main Office Tower, Financial Park Labuan Jalan Merdeka Labuan Federal Territory of Labuan 87000 Tel: +608 - 759 929 E mail: rko@expandian.com Website: www.expandian.com

CONTACT: No 13 Jalan Cahaya 15 Taman Cahaya 68000 Ampang Selangor Darul Ehsan Tel: +603 - 9286 8238 E mail: vincent@midori-malaysia.com Website: www.midori-malaysia.com

CONTACT: Suite 8 - 1 & 8 - 2, Level 8, Menara CIMB 1 Jalan Stesen Sentral 2 Kuala Lumpur Sentral 50470 Kuala Lumpur Tel: +6012 - 202 8624 E mail: shermaine.liu@icrontech.com Website: www.icrontech.com

CONTACT: B - 15, Level 15, Menara NU2 203 Jalan Tun Sambanthan Kuala Lumpur Sentral 50470 Kuala Lumpur Tel: +603 - 2787 3000 Website: www.internationalsos.com

MDBCONNECTS 1ST ISSUE 2019

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NEW MEMBERS

WARM WELCOME

As always, we constantly expand to include new and interesting partners as part of our international community of business professionals, allowing our members to find more opportunities for success.

To that end, we would like to extend a very warm welcome to the MDBC Community for the following new members:

INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY MALAYA -

Business Activity: International University Malaya - Wales (IUMW) was established based on a collaboration between the University of Malaya and the University of Wales, UK.

Corporate Representation Tay Kay Luan, Vice Chancellor Stephen Griffiths, Deputy Vice Chancellor

Leveraging on both universities’ outstanding achievements, together with its own band of academicians, IUMW offers an array of courses, from the foundation studies to the undergraduate and postgraduate level, in a lush and strategic campus located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

CONTACT: Level 1, Block A City Campus Jalan Tun Ismail 50480 Kuala Lumpur

Business Activity: Onecle Solution, also known as BIG WHEEL, was established in 2015 and has grown from more than just a co - working space to become an SME Community Builder and Capacity Building provider, serving foreign investors, local entrepreneurs, and companies. It creates a unique environment where everyone can gather and connect. We strive to build a sustainable community where BIG WHEEL comes to mind for anyone who is thinking of starting up or expanding their companies to different regions.

Corporate Representation Chang Kian Siong, Managing Director

Business Activity: We are a full fledged, multi - platform company providing advise on securities, collective investment schemes, financial planning, and insurance broking for life and general insurance catering to individuals and corporate clients.

Corporate Representation Godfried Meindertsma, Senior Wealth Manager

WALES

ONECLE SOLUTION SDN BHD

PROMISELAND INDEPENDENT

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Tel: +603 - 2617 3100 E mail: marketing@iumw.edu.my Website: www.iumw.edu.my

CONTACT: Plot F43, Lot PTD 183276, Zone F Mukim Pulai, Medini 79250 Nusajaya Johor Darul Ta’zim Tel: +6012 - 332 2865 / +607 - 362 1867 E mail: oneclesolution@gmail.com Website: www.bigwheel.com.my

CONTACT: 7500A Beach Road The Plaza #02 - 312 Singapore 199591 Tel: +65 - 6505 4171 E mail: freddy.meindertsma@promiseland.com.sg Website: www.promiseland.com.sg

NEW MEMBERS Business Activity: PropCoach is an international team of individuals who lead by example. We focus on the real estate industry and educate our clients with proven models and efficient tools. Through our “power education” we train, coach, and consult in a combination of fun, speed, efficiency, and quality to give the most value to our customers, followers, and team.

PROPCOACH

SOCAR MALAYSIA

CONTACT: B - 10 - 02 & B - 10 - 03, Dataran 32 2 Jalan 19 / 1 46300 Petaling Jaya Selangor Darul Ehsan Tel: +6012 - 770 6964 E mail: coach@propcoach.co Website: www.propcoach.co

Business Activity: SOCAR is a car sharing platform from Korea that launched in Malaysia in January 2018. With SOCAR now operational within the Klang Valley, users are able to book a car of their choosing through the app and rent it by the hour, day, or week. All cars come adequately fueled and insured, and feature a keyless entry system.

Corporate Representation Rodica Belocosov, Strategy and Planning Manager Jack Lim, Finance Manager

Booked cars can be picked up from designated SOCAR zones located across high traffic locations such as malls and LRT stops, and then dropped back at a designated parking zone.

Tel: +6017 - 255 8015 E mail: rodica@socar.my Website: www.socar.my

Business Activity: START Disrupt brings new business ideas to Beta faster. Start - up ideas or intrapreneurial ventures gain insights from the minds that work daily with big idea campaigns for the world’s best marketers.

Corporate Representation Gertjan Tijms, Strategy Datuk Tim Garland, Owner & Director

START DISRUPT

CONTACT: Wisma UOA Damansara II 50490 Kuala Lumpur

CONTACT: 15th Floor, Block B, HP Towers 12 Jalan Gelenggang Bukit Damansara 50490 Kuala Lumpur Tel: +603 - 2080 8200

Business Activity: Turkish Airlines started its journey in 1933 with just 5 aircrafts. Today, it has more than 329 flights in total and is number one in the world in terms of destinations. Turkish Airlines flies to over 309 destinations in 124 countries.

TURKISH AIRLINES

Corporate Representation Taco Heidinga, Director Alexander See, Director & COO

Corporate Representation Muhammed Hamza Arslan, Director Dila Gürses, Sales Manager CONTACT: 20 - 3 Menara Prestige 1 Jalan Pinang 50450 Kuala Lumpur Tel: +603 - 2164 0849 E mail: corporate.kul@thy.com Website: turkishairlines.com

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PICTURE PERFECT

Top: Full house at the Heineken Tavern for an evening with the best drinks and food, for which we also invited the colleagues of the Malaysia Belgium Luxembourg Business Council; Below: Some impressions of the annual Human Resources Forum 2018.

Below: MDBC regularly holds lunches for small groups of our members. This enables us to not only welcome new members and new representatives into the community, but also allow them to get to know us and each other better. This intimate environment also allows them to share with the Council any issues on doing business in Malaysia, ensuring open lines of communication.

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MDBC’s top networking events !

To kick off the year: A record - setting New Year’s Reception at the Netherlands Residence hosted by the Netherlands Embassy and MDBC, while in Penang hosted by Parkroyal Resort Penang.

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