Kuala Lumpur (VNA)🐲 – The Malaysian Parliament, in collaboration with the 46th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), launched “Now and Future 2025 Conference and Exhibition: Connecting Business with Policymakers” in Kuala Lumpur on September 17.

Running through September 20, the event marks the first time an official platform has been created within the AIPA framework to connect the private sector with policymakers, aiming to discuss pressing issues such as economic growth, sustainability, digitalisation, and social inclusion. In his opening remarks, Speaker of the Malaysian House of Representatives Johari Bin Abdul emphasised that the initiative was not merely about business or policymaking in isolation, but about how both sides can work together responsibly and ambitiously for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)’s shared future. He underlined that the core objective is to foster trust between lawmakers, who create the rules, and businesses, which drive the economy. With today’s complex challenges, neither governments nor enterprises can address issues alone. Establishing a space for dialogue, trust-building, and collective leadership is therefore essential. According to Johari, parliaments cannot stand apart from the realities faced by businesses and society. Instead, they must serve as a “bridge,” ensuring that policies are responsive, inclusive, and forward-looking. The Speaker noted that building trust requires parliaments to go beyond passing laws. Policymakers must actively lead transformations to ensure that the voices of the people are not drowned out by the noise of globalisation, and that the fruits of growth are shared fairly across generations. By bringing businesses and policymakers closer together, the forum aims to demonstrate that governance and growth must advance in parallel. The event has gathered parliamentary leaders, ministers, business representatives, and development agencies from across the region. Discussions focus on key foundations for ASEAN’s competitiveness and resilience, including inclusive economic development, sustainability and climate change, digitalisation and digital transformation, social inclusion, and food security./.