x Executive Focus | Malaysia (HD)

Professor Dato’ Dr. Hassan Said is the Vice-Chancellor and President of Taylor’s University, a private higher education institution based in Malaysia. He spoke with The Prospect Group about the competitive advantages of the higher education sector in Malaysia, the impact of the global economic crisis on enrollment, and the challenges facing the local sector.

Johan Mahmood Merican is the CEO of Talent Corporation (TalentCorp), which was established to formulate and facilitate initiatives to address the availability of talent in line with the needs of Malaysia’s economic transformation. He spoke with The Prospect Group about the brain drain of Malaysian talent, initiatives to bring back skilled professionals from abroad, and the leading sectors that work in collaboration with Talent Corporation.

Dato’ Dr Mohd Nazlee Kamal is the CEO of Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation, a government agency responsible for executing the objectives of the National Biotechnology Policy (NBP). He spoke with The Prospect Group about the company’s new initiatives, the funding and operating environment for the biotech industry in Malaysia, and the best opportunities for investment throughout the sector.

Ismail Ibrahim is the Chief Executive of the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), the governing body steering planning, growth, and development of the Iskandar region of Malaysia. He spoke with The Prospect Group about investment levels in the Iskandar region, the sectors that the government has identified as focal points, and the best investment opportunities in Iskandar Malaysia.

Dato’ Adissadikin Ali is the MD/CEO of EXIM Bank Malaysia, a government owned development financial institution which was established to provide credit facilities to finance and support exports and imports of goods, services and overseas projects. He spoke with The Prospect Group about the Bank’s recent turnaround, fundraising and disbursal targets, and the future of Malaysian exports.

Andrew M Sill is the Country Executive in Malaysia for RBS. He spoke with The Prospect Group about RBS’ structural changes, sukuk issuance, and the macroeconomic outlook for Malaysia.

Stewart Forbes is the Executive Director of the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI). He spoke with The Prospect Group about current opportunities that exist for foreign investors in Malaysia, encouraging Malaysian SMEs to expand internationally, and Malaysia’s competitive advantages.

Andrew Brien is the CEO of Suria KLCC, an integrated shopping center group specializing in the development, asset management, and operation of shopping malls. He spoke with The Prospect Group about the expansion of the Suria KLCC property, potential oversupply of retail property, and the prospects for investment in retail in Malaysia.

Hassan Basma is the CEO of Bumi Armada, a Malaysia-based offshore oil and gas services company, which is the 5th largest owner and operator of floating production, storage and offloading vessels in the world. He spoke with The Prospect Group about Bumi Armada’s business model, prospects for global offshore energy exploration, and Bumi Armada’s operations in the Caspian Sea.

Simon Featherstone is the British High Commissioner in Kuala Lumpur. He spoke with The Prospect Group about Britain’s economic relationship with Malaysia, how the countries are working together to strengthen the Commonwealth, and the greatest opportunities for foreign investment.

Hafidz Hashim is the Managing Director of Cyberview Sdn Bhd, which has been mandated to spearhead the entire development of Cyberjaya in line with the Malaysian government’s aspirations to realize Cyberjaya as MSC Malaysia’s cybercity and as a preferred location for ICT, Multimedia and Services for innovation and operations, and to fulfill specific government initiatives in support of the innovation economy. He spoke with The Prospect Group about Cyberview’s new projects, total investment in Cyberjaya to date, and Cyberview’s role in making Cyberjaya a premier ICT hub.

Nazrin Hassan is the CEO of Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd (Cradle), a not-for-profit funding agency that serves as a catalyst for sustainable technopreneurs. He spoke with The Prospect Group about Cradle’s success stories, opportunities for investment in Malaysia, and the role that angel investors must play in order to spur quality growth in the economy.

Koid Swee Lian is the CEO of Agensi Kaunseling dan Pengurusan Kredit (AKPK), Malaysia’s Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency. She spoke with The Prospect Group about AKPK’s expanding services, the state of consumer credit in Malaysia, and AKPK’s future targets.

David Wong is the CEO of SnT Global, a BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) solutions provider specializing in e-logistics, and the Co-founder and Chairman of Outsourcing Malaysia, an organization representing the SSO industry in Malaysia. He spoke with The Prospect Group about the competitiveness of the BPO industry in the region, the important role that the ICT sector plays in the government’s Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), and Malaysia’s competitive advantages vis-à-vis other countries throughout Asia.

Datuk Dr. Salmiah Ahmad is the Director General of the Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB), which is responsible for the development and modernisation of the Malaysian rubber industry. She spoke with The Prospect Group about the contribution of the rubber industry to Malaysia’s economy and the new Automatic Rubber Tapping System (ARTS).