KUALA LUMPUR — The Selangor Investment Forum (SIF) 2026 brought together more than 300 investors, industry leaders and key stakeholders to explore strategic projects and investment opportunities in Selangor, as the state seeks to strengthen its position as a regional investment hub.
Held yesterday at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) in conjunction with the 10th Selangor International Business Summit (SIBS) 2026, the forum featured investment briefings, regulatory guidance, strategic project presentations and discussions on the business environment.
Selangor State Executive Councillor for Investment, Trade and Mobility Ng Sze Han, in his welcoming remarks, highlighted the state’s strategic advantages amid the ongoing restructuring of global supply chains.
Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) chief executive officer Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid also delivered special remarks, while JLL Malaysia Real Estate chief growth officer Christophe Vicic presented an overview of investment trends and capital flows during a session titled “Malaysia Investment Spotlight: Where Capital is Moving”.
The forum also featured a presentation on the Second Selangor Plan (RS-2) by State Economic Planning Unit (UPEN) assistant director of the Macro and Privatisation Section Siti Nadira Mohd Nor, outlining the state’s long-term economic priorities and the importance of aligning investment strategies with its development agenda.
A technical session, “Navigating Investment Approvals in Malaysia: Regulatory Processes and Technical Requirements”, provided insights into the practical requirements for establishing and expanding business operations in the country.
Topics covered included SPEED Selangor by UPEN Selangor, free industrial zones (FIZ), free trade zones (FTZ) and licensed manufacturing warehouses (LMW) under the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, certificates of origin under the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), and investment incentives offered by MIDA.
The afternoon programme featured an investable projects presentation session titled “Unlocking Investment Opportunities: Strategic Projects by Selangor GLCs”, showcasing potential investment and collaboration opportunities involving Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporation), the Kita Selangor Rail Line under UPEN Selangor, and the Selangor Agenda for Green Economy (SAGE) by Worldwide Holdings Bhd.
An international chambers fireside chat, themed “Investor Perspectives: Opportunities and Challenges for Investing in Selangor and Malaysia”, brought together representatives from international business chambers to discuss the country’s investment environment.
The panel comprised EU-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive officer Kati Ferry, American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce chief executive officer Siobhan Das, and Taiwan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Malaysia vice-national president Hakeem Yang.
Moderated by UOB Malaysia country head of Corporate and Investment Banking, Wholesale Banking, Datin Christina Cheah, the discussion covered supply chain integration, talent development, cross-border logistics and operational challenges facing foreign companies establishing and expanding their presence in Malaysia.
The forum also featured the Malaysia Digital Location Recognition (MDLR) initiative by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), aimed at strengthening Selangor’s digital investment ecosystem through a structured framework for recognising strategic digital locations.
The framework comprises three categories: MD Hub, MD Nexus and MD Tech Zone, which aim to support Malaysia’s digital ecosystem through quality infrastructure, innovation-driven environments and investment-ready locations.
Through a collaboration between Invest Selangor and MDEC, Selangor became the first state to adopt the initiative at the state level under the MDLR@Selangor brand.
To date, 26 buildings across Selangor have received MD Nexus recognition, while two co-working spaces have been recognised under the MD Hub category.
The initiative is also expected to facilitate closer collaboration between Invest Selangor and MDEC to identify suitable locations, enhance investment readiness and strengthen engagement among investors, property developers, ecosystem partners and government agencies.
SIF 2026 concluded with a session titled “In Conversation with Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari”, sponsored by OCBC, which explored Selangor’s role as a gateway to ASEAN and its strategic direction under RS-2 for 2026-2030.
The discussion highlighted RS-2’s six missions and 98 initiatives, which aim to attract RM330 billion in investments, with a focus on five key sectors: electrical and electronics, aerospace, automotive, digital and creative industries.
Selangor’s investment performance was also highlighted, with RM70 billion in approved investments across 835 projects in the first half of 2026, representing a 101 per cent increase from the corresponding period last year. The digital sector was identified as a key contributor.
The discussion also touched on efforts to strengthen the state’s economic resilience, including the RM355.06 million Selangor Resilience Strengthening Package, supported by MITI.
Through SIF 2026, Invest Selangor aims to strengthen investment facilitation by connecting businesses with government agencies, strategic projects and industry stakeholders.
The forum’s combination of policy insights, regulatory guidance, project opportunities and international investor perspectives is intended to support informed investment decisions, business expansion and sustainable economic growth in Selangor.
—Bernama
