REHDA Institute today convened its flagship CEO Series 2026, bringing together more than 400 senior decision-makers from government, finance, industry, academia and the international business community to discuss Malaysia and ASEAN’s economic outlook, investment priorities and human capital challenges for the year ahead.

Held at Le Méridien Petaling Jaya, the annual conference set the tone for early-year policy and industry engagement, as leaders examined economic direction, policy clarity and competitiveness amid evolving global and regional conditions.

Reflecting the conference’s relevance to national economic and development priorities, CEO Series 2026 featured ministerial participation from YB Senator Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, Minister of Finance II; YB Tuan Anthony Loke Siew Fook, Minister of Transport; and YB Tuan Chiew Choon Man, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture.

Organised as part of a joint secretariat involving multiple supporting industry bodies and associations, CEO Series 2026 focused on Malaysia’s economic trajectory within ASEAN at the start of 2026, amid global uncertainty, shifting capital flows and heightened competition for foreign direct investment.

Discussions centred on innovation-led growth, investment readiness, recurring-income assets and cross-border integration, with particular attention given to regional competitiveness and policy coherence.

Dato’ Jeffrey Ng Tiong Lip, Chairman of REHDA Institute, said “The CEO Series was designed to facilitate substantive dialogue and provides a neutral platform where policymakers and senior leaders from a diverse range of industries can engage constructively on economic realities and long-term priorities. This engagement helps align policy direction, gather market insights from the various industries and investment decisions.”

CEO Series 2026 also featured international economists, researchers and industry leaders from ASEAN, Australia and Europe, reinforcing Malaysia’s continued engagement with regional and global stakeholders.

Speakers included Dr Koh Wee Chian from the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO), Denise Cheok from Moody’s Analytics, as well as senior industry representatives with experience across global markets.

Participants travelled from countries including Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, Australia and Singapore, contributing comparative perspectives on investment flows, capital markets and regional development trends.

Dato Jeffrey Ng added that continued participation by international experts and investors signals confidence in Malaysia’s fundamentals and its role within the region and allowed Malaysia to benchmark itself realistically against regional peers.

In line with national priorities, the conference addressed regional integration, including Johor–Singapore collaboration and the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone, examining cross-border synergies in manufacturing, logistics, infrastructure and urban development.

The conference also explored opportunities linked to Visit Malaysia Year 2026, particularly tourism-led development, hospitality and experience-driven real estate, and the role of private sector investment in supporting national tourism objectives while delivering sustainable economic returns.

A key outcome of CEO Series 2026 was the launch of the REHDA Institute Youth Initiative (RIYI), a national human capital development programme aimed at bridging academia and industry and strengthening Malaysia’s future talent pipeline.

RIYI was launched during the conference by YB Tuan Anthony Loke Siew Fook, Minister of Transport, underscoring its alignment with national workforce development priorities.

The initiative brought together more than 13 universities nationwide alongside corporate leaders and industry practitioners, with a focus on structured mentorship, early industry exposure and career guidance for high-potential students.

Ng said, “Economic resilience depends not only on investment and policy, but also on talent. RIYI reflects REHDA Institute’s belief that industry stakeholders must play a more active role in preparing young Malaysians to enter the workforce with practical skills and realistic expectations.”

He added that RIYI formed part of REHDA Institute’s broader commitment to Malaysia’s human capital development as a social enterprise.

“As an independent think tank, we look beyond immediate sectoral needs. Investing in youth and human capital is a long-term national responsibility”, he said.

As Malaysia enters 2026 amid global uncertainty and regional transition, CEO Series 2026 provided a platform for alignment, reflection and forward planning.