MIHAS was one of the key contributors to Malaysia’s positive trade performance which reached a record high of RM2.2 trillion in 2021. In this vein, MIHAS 2022 is back with a hybrid showcase and with its theme to diversify Halal possibilities, MIHAS wants to connect foreign businesses and trades with Malaysian companies to leverage Malaysia’s halal exports. We speak to Sharimahton Mat Saleh, Deputy Ceo (Export Acceleration) of MATRADE about what value MIHAS 2022 can bring to the Halal industry to elevate Malaysian Halal exports.

This episode is brought to you by MATRADE.

Image Credit: MIHAS Malaysia Facebook Page

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia is currently beset by a shortage of skilled labour and TVET talents. A report in the Edge detailed how this is actually hampering our pandemic recovery. What has led up to this situation unfolding? We speak to Sofea Azhar, a senior researcher from ISIS Malaysia to understand the issue at hand and how TVET uptake might be the solution to our shortage of skilled labour. 

Image Credit: Shutterstock | Visual Generation

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mergers and acquisitions are part and parcel of the corporate environment. When done right, it can build industry giants. A few good examples of this working out in a big way are Google and Android, Disney and Pixar. Yet, 70 to 90 percent of mergers and acquisitions break down which leads to the curious question, why? We speak to  Cilia Rasasegram, HR Consultant and Chief Experience Officer at Kindler Employee Experiences Project to understand the importance of having the right cultures and values in place during the M&A process. 

Image Credit: Shutterstock | VectorMine

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Young graduates these days are facing challenges kick-starting their career as they cannot get a job without experience, yet they cannot get the necessary experience without a job. What has led up to this situation plaguing our young graduates and how can it be addressed? We speak to Andrew Pereira, CEO of General Assembly Malaysia to understand the issue and discuss the solutions moving forward. 

Image Credit: Shutterstock | Doloves

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we move into the modern age of marketing, do traditional methods such as billboards and print ads still have a place in selling a product or service? Digital marketing has started to gain traction as people discover the power of connectivity and granular data that it offers. We speak to Anna Loi, co-founder of Good & Honest Co to understand the importance of digital marketing and how it can help businesses reach out to their target audiences.

Image Credit: Shutterstock | PopTika

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our understanding of traditional social media has been based on a top-down approach from content creators to followers who interact by liking or commenting on the released content. Recently, there has been a shift to social chat programs such as Discord, Geneva and Telegram due to their perceived openness and safer space while offering a more engaging experience to their users. We speak to Jan Wong, Founder & Online Strategist at OpenMinds Resources to understand this shift and what it means for the social media landscape.

Image Credit: Shutterstock | elenabsl

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Running a business is no easy feat with financing and cash flow being a constant concern. The Edge Malaysia recently issued a cover story detailing how SMEs are struggling with loan repayments and applying for new loans.This is amidst other issues such as raw material prices, inflation and labour shortages hampering potential growth. We speak to Dr Mohd Shahreen Madros, Adjunct Professor at UKM Graduate Business School to understand the issues around SME financing.

Image Credit: Shutterstock | Golden Sikorka

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Global food security is threatened by food price hike, climate change and labour shortage, it has triggered a global crisis that will drive millions more into extreme poverty and magnifying hunger. Knowing this, how and why are we still wasting food? In fact, food waste is increasing year on year globally. And many have made strides to solve this problem, specifically with technology. We speak to Preston Wong, the founder of the Singaporean food waste app treatsure, to learn more about how he saved 30 tonnes of food from going to waste.

Image Credit: Shutterstock | mentalmind

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite rising popularity, are ESG investments really delivering the positive impact it’s supposed to? According to the Harvard Business Review, this is not always the case. The funds contained within these investments are not the same as capital that’s needed to effect change within the ESG space as they are focused on financial returns. We speak to Dr Renard Siew, Sustainability and Climate Change expert to get his thoughts on this.

Image Credit: Shutterstock | TA design

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia is rated as the cheapest location to hire expats by a recent ECA International survey. What does being the “cheapest” mean and what does it translate to in terms of the talents that are available or unavailable in Malaysia? We speak to Lee Quane, Regional Director of Asia at ECA International.

Image Credit: Shutterstock | MarcoVector

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.