Malaysia and Philippines celebrate 60 years of diplomatic ties with focus on tech and innovation

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The Embassy of Malaysia in Manila, supported by Digital Pilipinas and GeiserMaclang, commemorated the 60th anniversary of Malaysia-Philippines diplomatic relations with a media reception emphasizing technology and innovation. The event, held at the Embassy of Malaysia in Makati City, gathered key representatives from various sectors to enhance bilateral cooperation.

Attendees included representatives from the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS), National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICT-PH), Maybank, and Citihomes. Discussions focused on advancing trade fairs, conferences, and workforce upskilling initiatives, while also highlighting successes in sustainable development and ICT.

Deputy Chief of Mission Mohd Fareed Zakaria opened the event, delivering remarks on behalf of Ambassador Dato’ Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino Deputy Chief of Mission Zakarie emphasized the enduring friendship between Malaysia and the Philippines and the significance of the day’s discussions in shaping future collaborations.

“We are here together as friends to celebrate our achievements and plan for the future as we mark 60 years of Malaysia-Philippines relations,” Deputy Chief of Mission Zakaria stated. He announced upcoming events such as MIHAS in September and the National Human Capital Conference Exhibition later that month in Malaysia. He also invited attendees to participate in the business franchise event in Manila and the Mindanao Conference in Zamboanga City.

The event featured presentations from key industry leaders. Benny Tham from Weida Philippines highlighted Weida’s contributions, including polyethylene projects for water needs and green home initiatives in Davao Del Norte, underscoring the company’s commitment to sustainable development.

Jessraf Palmares, President, NICT-PH, discussed the organization’s efforts to revolutionize technology across the Philippines. Palmares announced the Mindanao Conference in Zamboanga City, supported by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), and outlined various regional conferences aimed at advancing the ICT agenda.

Wan Yon Shahima, Chief Customer Officer of HRD Corp Malaysia, detailed the organization’s mission to enhance the skills and employability of the Malaysian workforce. Shahima highlighted the upcoming National Human Capital Conference and Exhibition (NHCCE 2024) in Malaysia and invited ASEAN countries to participate in this significant event focused on human capital development and technological innovation.

Amor Maclang, Convenor of Digital Pilipinas, shared the history and milestones of the collaboration between Digital Pilipinas and the Malaysian Embassy. Maclang emphasized the strong ties in areas such as Halal advocacy and digitalization and noted Malaysia’s leadership in ASEAN’s digital transformation. She also announced a national roadshow in August and Digital Pilipinas’s participation in the MDEX event in Malaysia this October.

The gathering concluded with a shared vision of positioning ASEAN as a global innovation hub through continued collaboration in technology and human capital development. This initiative aligns with the GMCI Road to 2025 program, supported by GeiserMaclang, which aims to foster innovation and technological advancement in the region.

For more information, please visit the Digital Pilipinas website at https://digitalpilipinas.ph/ and GeiserMaclang on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/geisermaclang/mycompany/.