On 30 January, AMCHAM held a Spotlight Session for Vriens & Partners featuring the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM) along with the HEART Alliance.
With Cervical Cancer being the most HPV-related cancer among females, this session provided the essential information to help prevent HPV via vaccination. Dr. Vicky Subramaniam, Clinical Lead at the NCSM provided an overview of HPV and Cervical Cancer, touching on the early screenings and the treatment along with case studies of successful screening and vaccination programs.
Dr. Jason Chin Yu Aun, Operations Lead at the NCSM presented on the ‘Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-related Cancers Elimination Alliance Rallying Together’ (HEART) initiative which aims to spread awareness and promote the protection against HPV-related cancers in society. Attendees got to learn about their on-site HPV vaccinations as well as their on-site cancer and health screenings.
Mindy Tan, a cancer survivor and advocate, shared her journey with the attendees on how she confronted Cervical Cancer and the steps she undertook after.
Thank you to all our guest speakers for tackling such a vital topic and showcasing solutions to deal with HPV-related cancer.
On Monday, 29 January, AMCHAM hosted representatives from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank and the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Trade Development Agency (USTDA) to go into detail on business opportunities with ADB and USTDA, and what the procurement process looks like.
Frederick Helfrich, Deputy Senior Commercial Officer at U.S. Commercial Service opened the session and provided an overview of regional multilateral development bank opportunities. Danica R. Starks, Senior U.S. Commercial Liaison, Advisor to the U.S. Executive Director of World Bank introduced the services from the World Bank for US companies and how to qualify.
Stephane Y. Bessadi, Senior Procurement Specialist, Procurement, Portfolio and Financial Management Department at Asian Development Bank, presented on the procurement process and support available by ADB and how it can enhance an organization’s initiatives.
Murni Ali, Senior Country Representative, Malaysia at U.S. Trade and Development Agency briefed attendees on the USTDA’s services and potential partnerships for businesses in the region.
Thank you to all our guest speakers for conducting an informative session on how grants and projects are approved, and thank you to ADB and U.S. Commercial Services for collaborating with us for this event.
Congratulations to Christy Ooi, Li Lee, and Jeta Gidwani on their well-deserved promotions at AMCHAM!
Christy’s dedication to ensuring AMCHAM events are pulled off with the excellence and style expected of the Chamber has rightfully earned her the promotion to Events Manager. We are confident that she will bring new ideas to the role, contributing to the continued success of AMCHAM events.
Li Lee has been, in many ways, part of the glue that binds the AMCHAM Executive Office. Her longstanding commitment and integral role in AMCHAM’s success since 2010 will continue as she becomes the Senior Administrative Executive. Her vast experience will undoubtedly benefit both the organization and its newer staff and members.
Jeta Gidwani, with his expertise & skills in keeping communication with our members at the forefront of Chamber activities, has been a valuable asset to the Chamber since 2019, and especially so during the COVID-19 years. We are delighted to announce his promotion to Senior Marketing & Communications Executive. He will undoubtedly play a key role in advancing the Chamber’s communication strategies, so keep an eye out for evidence of his work and style coming across your computer!
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Christy, Li Lee, and Jeta on their achievements, and we look forward to witnessing their continued growth and success within the AMCHAM family. Here’s to many more accomplishments in the future!
On 23 January, AMCHAM members met with the United States Congressional Delegates from the House Foreign Affairs Committee, led by Congresswoman Young Kim, Chairwoman of the Indo-Pacific Subcommittee, for an exclusive, closed-door discussion at Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara.
This session presented members with a rare opportunity to provide their input to lawmakers about the value of Malaysia’s supply chain, the country’s capabilities, opportunities for business, and why Malaysia is seen as an investment destination for U.S. companies.
Malaysia has proven itself to be a reliable investment partner for U.S. firms, with the country offering a stable business environment with a comparative ease of doing business when compared to many of its neighbors. Its relatively skilled, English-speaking workforce, many trained to be compliant with U.S. and other global standards, provides the country an edge. Coupled with a collaborative working approach between the public and private sectors, Malaysia provides opportunities for future tech investments and long-term partnerships.
Thank you to Representative Young Kim (R-CA) for leading this delegation to Malaysia and we look forward to future engagements in Malaysia as well as in Washington D.C. later this year. The delegation included:
- Rep. Marriannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA)
- Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-AZ)
- Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-IL)
- Rep. Kathy Manning (D-NC)
Along with several senior staff members including Annie Kowalewski, Eric Lee, Ally Schwartz, Anubhav Gupta, Ryan Murphy, and Richard Fournier; from the US Embassy in KL Francis “Chip” Peters, Dave Williams, Tao Zeng, Isaac Jenkins, Mike Urban, and Jim Williams.
Thank you to our members Steve Clayton, Datuk Timothy Garland, Timothy Monk, Vikram Singh, Joseph Christofanelli, Lau Kean Cheong, Chong Poh Leng, Amarjit Singh Suri, Siew Jin Tan, Mistika Idris, and Anna Baweh from AMCHAM.
JA Malaysia proudly marked a significant milestone during the Annual Showcase of the Young Achievers (YE) Program 2023 – celebrating an astounding 35 years of shaping young minds in entrepreneurship education. The roots of this remarkable journey trace back to 1989 when their founding sponsor, the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM), spearheaded a groundbreaking initiative. Alongside five corporate sponsors and six schools, this marked the inception of the Young Enterprise Program in the Klang Valley.
Expanding its reach to Penang in 1990, the YE Program has thrived in both regions ever since. Over the years, the program has evolved and grown, overcoming challenges, and transforming them into stepping stones. On 19 January, 2024, with the participation of numerous Corporate Sponsors and Schools, the YE family boasts an impactful journey. The visionary support of AMCHAM has been instrumental in shaping the success and impact of this entrepreneurial journey. From 1989 to 2023, the YE Program has impacted close to 29,400 students, thanks to the concerted efforts of AMCHAM.
To commemorate this extraordinary commitment, JA Malaysia presented an Appreciation Award to AMCHAM during the event, expressing deep gratitude for their pivotal and visionary support that has propelled the YE Program to its current heights. This award was also extended to Western Digital and Motorola Solutions, the two pioneering sponsors whose unwavering dedication has been a crucial element of the YE Program’s success.
Western Digital, started in 1989 with a sponsorship of SMK Raja Ali, and has been supporting YE since then. This year, and for a number of years, they have been a dedicated sponsor of SMK Perempuan Sri Aman. Western Digital also sponsored schools for a while in Penang through their subsidiary WD Media. The impact of Western Digital extends to 1260 students across 42 batches, marking a consistent commitment to the cause.
Motorola Solutions, another pioneering sponsor, made significant contributions, sponsoring schools like SMK Taman Tun Dr Ismail and co-sponsoring Victoria Institution. In 1993, Motorola joined the Penang YE sponsoring SMK (P) Sri Mutiara. From 1989 to 2023, Motorola has impacted 1890 students through 63 batches, showcasing unwavering support for the YE program.
This outstanding achievement gains even more significance as the majority of these sponsors, past and present, are esteemed members of AMCHAM. AIG, Avanade, Dell Technologies Malaysia, FedEx Express Services, GE Aerospace, Julie’s Manufacturing, MACROKIOSK, On Semiconductor, Safety Capital, SBM Offshore, Sensata, Start Disrupt, and SunPower – these members form the backbone of the YE Program, keeping the journey alive and thriving.
The YE 2023 Penang Annual Showcase took place on November 30th last year, with the generous support of Analog Devices, Dell Technologies Malaysia, FedEx Express Services, First Solar, Flex, Intel Technologies, Kiwanis Club of Penang Central, LAM Research, Micron, Motorola Solutions, AMS Osram, and Universiti Sains Malaysia. Their steadfast support has played a pivotal role in the success of the Penang YE program. As they look forward, the celebration of 35 years of YE Penang will be a highlight at the YE Penang Annual Showcase in 2024.
This rich history of partnerships and support underscores the enduring impact of the YE Program, emphasizing the pivotal role of sponsors and partners in shaping the entrepreneurial journey for thousands of students. JA Malaysia expresses heartfelt gratitude to each contributor for their commitment and dedication to empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, January 22, 2024 — More than 2,200 team members from FedEx Express (FedEx), a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and one of the world’s largest express transportation companies, have been actively collecting over 8,000 kilograms of much-needed supplies for more than 30 non-profit organizations (NGOs) of choice across the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) region.
In Malaysia, the Purple Tote Campaign was conducted to support local NGOs, Kechara Soup Kitchen and Shelter Home for Children. FedEx team members collected approximately 200 kilograms of packaged food and essential items, such as instant noodles, oats, biscuits, mosquito coils and adult diapers, which were donated to the homeless and marginalised communities.
These donations of supplies were made as part of the annual FedEx Cares Purple Tote Campaign which ran between October to December 2023 to empower FedEx team members to come together and support the NGOs they value most in their local communities. FedEx volunteers from 18 markets in the region including Malaysia, Australia, China, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Namibia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates took part in the program.
This year team members came together in teams of all sizes across the region. Each team worked with their charities of choice and collected goods needed most and distributed them to the charities in FedEx Cares purple tote bags. Over 2,400 beneficiaries including young children, the elderly and the underserved groups received goods with love from FedEx team members.
“Every action that improves our world, no matter how small, is something extraordinary. These individual donations under our FedEx Cares program has created new opportunities for our team members to multiply the positive impact FedEx makes in the local communities where we live and work,” said Kawal Preet, president of Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (AMEA) region at FedEx Express. “Committing to Do Good is one of our most important values and community action like this is one of the things that makes working at FedEx so incredibly rewarding.”
“We are proud to be able to use our resources to positively impact the welfare of local communities and contribute to the social and economic needs of the less fortunate,” said Tien Long Woon, managing director of FedEx Express Malaysia. “With surging costs of living especially in the urban areas of Malaysia[1] in recent years, we hope initiatives such as this can go a long way towards supporting our purpose of connecting people and possibilities.”
As part of FedEx Cares, team members around the globe are encouraged to come together to ‘Drive forward. Give back’ by volunteering and doing countless acts of caring throughout the year. Earlier In April 2023, FedEx teams across AMEA came together under the ’50 Days of Caring’ to support FedEx 50th anniversary. This program mobilized more than 1,000 FedEx volunteers and their families in community-based activities focused on sustainability and environmental protection, education, welfare, and support for the underserved. Learn more at fedexcares.com.
[1] World Bank, October 2023
