Conference on global partnership and technologies in business

With the theme, The Importance of Global Partnership and Technologies in Business Industries, the 5^th Industrial Business Conference 2022 and China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week 2022 (CAECW 2022) were held on 12 and 13 November 2022 via Voov.

The conference, jointly organised by UTAR and Guizhou University, China, was also supported by the 2022 China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week.  China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week is a platform which promotes cultural and educational exchanges between China and ASEAN economies. Projects of CAECW 2022 focus on sustainable education cooperation, educational exchanges, and cooperation in the post-pandemic era. It also includes youth innovation and entrepreneurship, and cross-cultural exchange of youths.

Prof Choong delivering his welcome remark

UTAR Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong, in his welcome remarks, expressed his appreciation to Guizhou University, the China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week and the speakers for their support in this event. He said, “Today’s conference is an important cooperation project between UTAR and Guizhou University. This conference will discuss topics related to global partnerships as well as the role of technology in the business industry, allowing students from Malaysia and China (also our future workforce) to learn from experts and scholars from universities and industries about international topics, master the international trends, keep abreast of the times, and encourage mutual learning opportunities.”

Prof Zhou delivering his speech

Guizhou University Vice President Prof Dr Zhou Shaoqi said, “2022 is the 15th year anniversary of the China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week. As a major member of ASEAN, Malaysia is an important partner to China. At the same time, Malaysia is the first ASEAN country to establish diplomatic relations with China. The cooperation between China and Malaysia in the fields of science and technology, education and culture has greatly promoted the economic growth of the two countries as well as the cultural exchanges between the two peoples. I hope that both Guizhou University and UTAR can hold a series of offline activities in the near future to further enhance the cooperation and deepen the relationship between both parties, and achieve more fruitful results.”

Chen sharing his thoughts

The Office of the Secretariat of the Organising Committee of CAECW Director Chen Wenyi, on the other hand, expressed his gratitude towards UTAR and Guizhou University for their strong support towards CAECW 2022. He said, “China and Malaysia have a long history of friendly exchanges. Over the years, both China and Malaysia have carried out extensive and in-depth cooperation in education, culture and other fields. I hope Guizhou University and UTAR will utilise CAECW as an opportunity to strengthen the China-Malaysia bilateral relationship, deepen the comprehensiveness of China-Malaysia education, industry and commerce, and work together to explore new goals and directions for bilateral education cooperation.”

Ngew (left) and Andy Pah

Following was a talk from Bai Jia Xing Sdn Bhd Executive Director Ngew Shook Ying and MPKK Kampung Datuk Harun (Cina) Serendah Chairman Andy Pah, who presented their talk titled “Global partnership starts from local partnership- the potential of the New Villages partnership in Malaysia”. Andy Pah, in his talk, shared how he helped the community, especially women to sell their local specialities on the online platform. He also shared the activities he organised to spread the community’s culture. Ngew focused on the establishment of Bai Jia Xing. She shared the advantages of manual production such as its uniqueness, quality and traditional taste (ancient taste), as well as storytelling of cultural and historical background, the challenges of manual production, why ‘new village enterprise’, the products sold under Bai Jia Xing and other related topics. She said, “I wish we could bring the concept of “Bai Jia Xing” to other villages in the future and allow the tradition to be passed on.”

Yogeswaree (left photo), Dr Li Yimen (right photo, right) and Dr Li Dun (right photo, left) during the Q&A session

The conference was followed by a forum titled ‘The impact of international partnership and technology advancement on business’ which featured S. Yogeswaree, Senior Manager of Investor & Ecosystem Management from InvestKL, Guizhou University Dr Li Yimen and Guizhou University Dr Li Dun. It was moderated by Division of Community and International Networking Director Assoc Prof Dr Lai Soon Onn.

Yogeswaree gave an overview of InvestKL’s achievement to date in facilitating the establishment of Global Services Hubs by over 120 leading global companies to Greater Kuala Lumpur. Guided by the National Investment Aspirations (NIA) the agency aims to complement Malaysia’s goal of becoming a high-income nation through quality investments, the transfer of knowledge and the creation of high-skilled jobs. Yogeswaree adds the need to upskill and nurture talent is important to attract more foreign investments. InvestKL’s talent support includes matching local expertise required by investors and building a healthy talent pipeline while mobilizing and connecting talent to opportunities.

Clockwise from left: Dr Li moderating the forum with panellists Dr Seah, Dr Gong and Dr Wang

The second day of the conference kicked off with a forum titled “Traditional business vs e-business” featuring panellists Dr Seah Choon Sen from UTAR Faculty of Accountancy and Management Department of International Business, Assoc Prof Dr Wang Jun and Dr Gong Xiaoxiao from Guizhou University College of Management. It was moderated by Dr Li Chengjiang from Guizhou University College of Management. In the forum, Dr Seah explained traditional business and e-business in Malaysia, while Dr Wang talked about the current status and development trends of live-streaming e-commerce. Last but not least, Dr Gong shared the research impacting factors of consumers’ impulse buying in live-streaming commerce.

Prof Wong Chin Yoong

The forum was followed by a talk from UTAR Faculty of Business and Finance Department of Economics Prof Dr Wong Chin Yoong. In his talk titled “Global partnership and technology roles in business industries”, Prof Wong highlighted three main points if techno-nationalism becomes an irreversible trend: 1) the outcome is not necessarily disastrous; 2) cross-border production, trade and technological cooperation can still be expanded and 3) the key is to be a neutral third party that can gain the mutual trust of major countries.

Prof Wang Maochun

Next, Prof Dr Wang Maochun from Guizhou University College of Management presented his talk titled “Innovation of integrated development mode of commerce and e-commerce in high-speed railway station under logistics hub economy” whereby he shared the composition of hub economy and adjacent station industry, the dynamic mechanism of channel empowerment hub economy, integrated mode of commerce and e-commerce in high-speed railway station, conditions created by logistics hub for the integration of commerce and e-commerce in high-speed railway station, innovations of mode of commerce and e-commerce in high-speed railway station, and other related topics.

The conference came to an end with a closing remark from Prof Choong. He said, “UTAR’s Industrial Business Conference is being since 2018. It is fortunate that this cross-border exchange activity not only provides opportunities for students from the two universities to achieve cross-border and cross-field mutual learning and exchanges, but also provides in-depth and extended professional discussions between scholars from both universities. I hope this academic exchange will promote cross-field cooperation between the two countries, and enable local companies in Malaysia and China to achieve global partnerships.”