MICCI Perak Celebrates 115 Years of Building Business Connections
Industries rise and fall, technologies change, markets shift, and entire economic landscapes can be transformed over 115 years. Yet, through all these changes, the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI) Perak Branch has continued to connect businesses, engage with government, and remain part of Perak’s evolving business story.
This impressive milestone was celebrated on 4 September 2026, when MICCI Perak hosted its 115th anniversary dinner at the Grand Ballroom of WEIL Hotel, Ipoh.
The event brought together government representatives, MICCI members, sponsors, business leaders, partners and stakeholders, with YB Mr Loh Sze Yee, Chairman of the Perak State Executive Committee for Tourism, Industry, Investment and Corridor Development, as guest of honour.
115 years is about people, not just time
In his welcome address, MICCI Perak Chairman Mr Jean-François Chavériat summed up the significance of the milestone particularly well.
“115 years is a remarkable achievement, one that reflects not only the longevity of our organisation, but also the strength of the relationships, trust and commitment that have sustained MICCI Perak throughout the decades.”
A chamber of commerce can organise events, seminars and networking sessions, but its true strength lies in the relationships it builds and nurtures over time. For more than a century, MICCI Perak has provided a platform for the business community to connect, exchange ideas, stay abreast of developments and engage directly with government. This role has become even more important today, as the business environment grows increasingly complex and businesses face new challenges at an ever-faster pace.
As Chavériat put it, “Our real added value, our relevance comes when we can connect business experience with policy discussions, and then bring useful information back to our members.”
From business networking to advocacy
Throughout 2026, MICCI Perak has been particularly active in bringing its members into conversations with key agencies and organisations.
Among its engagements were meetings with MITI Perak and MIDA Perak, a members’ get-together involving PERKESO and MyFutureJobs, business networking with the British Malaysia Society, an engagement on the LuMIC development, and collaboration with PKNPk on the POWER UP RM1 Billion CEO Programme and sustainable smart factories.
The Branch also conducted training on Data Protection Compliance and Data Protection Officers, while participating as a strategic partner at Invest in Perak Day 2026.
At the federal level, MICCI representatives are involved in areas ranging from trade and investment and taxation to ESG, human capital, logistics, infrastructure and supply-chain security.
The Chamber has also participated in the Ministry of Finance’s engagement on Budget 2027, while its Logistics and Infrastructure Council and Joint Action Security Group have engaged with the Royal Malaysia Police on cargo crime prevention.
This broad scope reflects how much the business environment has changed.
Business is becoming more complicated
Twenty years ago, a company dealing with regulations might have been concerned with areas such as taxation, customs, labour, company law, safety and environmental requirements.
Today, the list is considerably longer. Businesses must also understand data protection, cybersecurity, ESG, sustainability, carbon footprints, e-invoicing, supply-chain compliance, corporate governance, new employment models and increasingly complicated trade regulations.
The challenge, as Chavériat pointed out, is not merely having more regulations. He said, “The whole environment has become broader and more interconnected – and this has happened in a relatively short period of time.”
For companies, adaptation is no longer optional. Technology is moving quickly. Supply chains are interconnected across borders. Investment patterns are changing. Competition is becoming not only regional, but global.
Political tensions and trade disputes can also disrupt international markets and supply chains with little warning. This is why the dialogue between business and government matters.
Businesses need to understand new requirements, prepare their organisations and implement changes properly. That requires consultation and, where possible, sufficient time to adapt.
The message from MICCI was therefore not about resisting regulation, but about making it workable.
Perak’s economic transformation
While businesses face new pressures, Perak is also entering an interesting phase of economic development.
YB Loh highlighted the state’s growing focus on attracting quality investment rather than simply increasing investment numbers.
The aim is to bring in investments that generate high-value employment, strengthen local supply chains, develop talent and position Perak more firmly within regional and global value chains.
Several major developments are expected to play a role in this transformation, including the Kerian Integrated Green Industrial Park (KIGIP), Silver Valley Technology Park, Lumut Maritime Industrial City (LuMIC) and the Automotive High-Tech Valley in Tanjung Malim.
These projects could create opportunities across manufacturing, technology, logistics, maritime and automotive-related industries.
Semiconductor opportunities
Another area highlighted during the event was Perak’s potential in the electrical and electronics and semiconductor sector.
Perak already has an established industrial base, including semiconductor-related companies such as Carsem and Unisem. But the opportunity may not lie in trying to replicate Penang or Kulim. Instead, Perak can become a complementary part of a wider northern Malaysian industrial ecosystem.
With its strategic location, availability of industrial land, infrastructure and competitive operating environment, Perak is well positioned to benefit from the growth of the wider northern corridor.
The development of KIGIP could be particularly significant in capturing opportunities arising from the established industrial clusters across the border.
However, investment attraction alone will not guarantee success. Businesses also need infrastructure, reliable utilities, skilled workers, efficient approvals and confidence in the long-term operating environment.
As YB Loh said, “Our responsibility is not simply to invite investors to Perak. It is to create an environment where businesses can invest, operate, expand and succeed.”
The numbers are encouraging
MIDA-approved investments in the state rose from RM8.50 billion across 356 projects in 2023 to around RM8.75 billion in 2024. Then came a significant jump in 2025, when approved investments reached RM15.76 billion across 560 projects. That represented an increase of more than 80 per cent compared with the previous year.
Approximately two-thirds of the 2025 investment was domestic, while one-third was foreign. The figures are certainly encouraging, but MICCI’s message was clear: Perak should not become complacent.
The next challenge is to convert investment interest into sustainable economic growth and ensure that both new and existing businesses have the conditions they need to succeed.
One of the more important points raised during the dinner was the need to look beyond attracting new investors. Existing companies have already invested in the state. They provide employment, contribute to supply chains and bring years of knowledge and experience. Many are also capable of investing further. For these businesses, stability and predictability matter.
Government-business engagement therefore needs to work both ways: government needs business input when developing policies, while businesses need clear information and efficient channels to navigate the regulatory and investment environment. This is precisely the kind of bridge MICCI hopes to continue providing.
Celebrating four decades of membership
An anniversary is also a time to recognise those who have stayed the course.
Two MICCI members were honoured during the evening with 40-Year Long Standing Membership Awards: HSBC Bank and Hexza Corporation Berhad.
For HSBC, its relationship with Ipoh stretches back more than 100 years. Accepting the recognition was Mr Calvin Koh, Vice President, International Mid-Market, Corporate & Institutional Banking, HSBC Bank.
Hexza Corporation Berhad, meanwhile, has deep roots in Malaysia’s industrial sector. Its subsidiary, Chemical Industries (Malaya) Sdn Bhd, has been producing ethanol since 1962, making it a pioneer in the country’s ethanol industry. The Group’s more recent investment in a corn-based ethanol plant in 2025 also reflects its continuing commitment to sustainable production and long-term growth.
The award was received by Mr Foong Leon Chiew, Executive Chairman of Hexza Corporation Berhad.
These long-standing memberships are significant because they demonstrate that business relationships are not built overnight, but through years of trust, engagement and mutual value.
When networking creates real opportunities
One of the evening’s best examples of the practical value of business connections came from Mr Nicholas Goh, Vice-Chairman I of MICCI Perak and Organising Chairman of the anniversary dinner.
As CEO of the group that wholly owns Quest International University (QIU), he shared how MICCI’s network had helped facilitate connections between the university, government agencies and businesses.
Those connections are already translating into tangible projects. QIU is set to break ground on its new campus on 19 September, with the ceremony to be officiated by Perak Menteri Besar YAB Dato’ Sri Saarani Mohamad.
The planned campus will take a different approach from the conventional university model, incorporating sustainability and an open, fenceless concept designed to connect with local businesses and the wider community.
Another example is QIU’s collaboration with Coherent, represented at the dinner by General Manager Mr Tiang Bih Yeong. The two organisations are working towards an initiative to co-develop and train 3,000 workers, helping address the demand for skilled talent while strengthening Perak’s workforce.
And that creates benefits beyond the companies involved. When young people have access to meaningful career opportunities in Perak, they have more reason to stay, work and build their futures here.
Building Perak together
The message from YB Loh was equally forward-looking.
Perak, he said, must continue to evolve just as MICCI has evolved over its 115-year history. “We cannot depend solely on what worked in the past. We must be prepared to embrace new industries, new technologies, new markets and new ways of doing business.”
At the same time, the state should not lose sight of its existing strengths: its people, resources, location, natural and cultural assets and quality of life.
The ambition is to make Perak investment-friendly, business-friendly and talent-friendly. That means creating opportunities not just for multinational investors, but also for local companies, entrepreneurs, workers and young people.
The next 115 years
Perhaps the most fitting message from the dinner came from the recognition that the next 115 years will look nothing like the last.
Technology will continue to change the way businesses operate. Supply chains will evolve. New industries will emerge. Competition for investment and talent will intensify.
Nobody can predict exactly what Perak’s business landscape will look like in 2141.
But the principles that have kept MICCI Perak relevant for 115 years are unlikely to change: relationships, dialogue, trust, knowledge and the willingness to adapt.
As Mr Chavériat outlined, MICCI’s purpose can be kept remarkably simple – Listen to our members. Connect with the right people. Represent business constructively. Share knowledge. And help create an environment where businesses can grow.
That is a fitting blueprint for the next chapter.
Event: MICCI Perak 115th Anniversary Dinner
Venue: Weil Hotel, Ipoh
Date: 4th Sept 2026
Time: 7pm
