04/11/2025

BIZ & FINANCE TUESDAY | NOV 4, 2025

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Call to action on Asean sustainability, digitalisation

FedEx expands Asia network with Guangzhou-Penang non-stop service PETALING JAYA: Federal Express Corporation (FedEx), one of the world’s largest express transportation companies, has announced a new non-stop cargo flight service between Guangzhou and Penang, aimed at boosting trade and enhanced supply chain efficiency in the region. Operating five times a week, Monday to Friday, the service utilises Boeing B767 freighters and offers dedicated inbound capacity from FedEx Asia Pacific Hub to Penang. This enables importers in the state to receive shipments approximately one hour earlier, significantly enhancing delivery timelines and operational efficiency. “Malaysia’s emergence as a key trade hub in Southeast Asia presents tremendous opportunities for businesses. At FedEx, we see ourselves not just as a logistics provider, but as a strategic partner,” said FedEx Malaysia managing director, Woon Tien Long, adding that their investments in Malaysia are designed to support businesses, helping them respond to market demands, drive innovation, and grow in an increasingly competitive global economy. Malaysia’s strategic location and robust infrastructure make it a prime hub for supply chain diversification, as evident from the RM190.3 billion in approved investments in first half 2025, with over half coming from foreign investors, according to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida). This environment creates new opportunities for manufacturers and SMEs to strengthen their operations – benefitting from faster inbound deliveries to Penang and extended pickup options in Klang Valley that enhance their resilience and competitiveness. Reinforcing its commitment to the country’s growth, FedEx has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Penang Development Corporation to develop a 100,000-square-foot logistics facility, investing about RM46 million. Located within the upcoming Penang International Logistics Aeropark, this modern facility will enhance Malaysia’s logistics infrastructure and drive regional trade growth upon its completion in 2028. DKSH, Kellanova to distribute Kellogg’s and Pringles products PETALING JAYA: DKSH Business Unit Consumer Goods, a partner for companies seeking to grow their consumer goods business in Asia and beyond, partnered with subsidiaries of the global leader in the snacking and cereal industry, Kellanova. Through this collaboration, DKSH will help strengthen the market presence of brands by Kellanova such as Kellogg’s Froot Loops, Coco Galaxy, and Corn Flakesas well as Pringles Original and Sour Cream & Onion. Under the agreement, DKSH will provide full market expansion services for Kellogg’s and Pringles in Peninsular Malaysia, including sales, trade marketing activities, distribution and logistics, credit and collection, and merchandising. Pringles will be distributed across all channels, including Food Services, while Kellogg’s will be available across all channels except Food Services. DKSH Malaysia fast moving consumer goods vice-president, Daniel Schwalb said: “This partnership is a strong testament to DKSH Malaysia’s capabilities and reputation in the market. But beyond scale, it is truly about impact - unlocking new growth opportunities for Kellanova while delivering even greater value to Malaysian families through their portfolio of iconic brands. Our commitment is to make these beloved products more accessible, ensuring that whether it is a family starting their day with Kellogg’s or friends sharing Pringles, these moments of enjoyment are within easy reach for consumers across Peninsular Malaysia.”

o ACCA: Continuity of agenda, long-term measures needed to ensure growth remains resilient and inclusive

KUALA LUMPUR: As Malaysia concludes its Asean chairmanship in 2025 with the 47th Asean Summit, the momentum around sustainability and digitalisation must now translate into long-term action through capacity-building, ethical governance, and shared standards, to ensure the region’s growth remains resilient and inclusive. Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) executive director of relationships Lucia Real-Martin said Malaysia’s leadership has placed sustainability and digitalisation firmly at the heart of the region’s economic agenda. “The next step is to ensure continuity, embedding these priorities into long-term capacity building, shared standards and ethical governance,” she told Bernama. Real-Martin said ACCA is helping to sustain this legacy through its partnership with the Asean Business Advisory Council (Asean BAC), including the Asean Sustainability Reporting Advocacy Collaborative, which was launched during Malaysia’s chairmanship. The initiative seeks to harmonise sustainability reporting across Asean using the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), while adapting to local contexts – an effort that will strengthen governance, talent and disclosure consistency. She was recently in Malaysia, where she spoke at a focused session on charting Asean’s sustainable future under the Asean Business and Investment Summit (ABIS 2025), and held several meetings with public and private sector partners. Real-Martin said finance and accounting professionals play a critical role in Asean’s green transition and sustainable investment agenda. She reckons they translate sustainability ambition into credible, measurable outcomes, identify environmental, social, and governance risks, guide sustainable investment decisions, and assure the integrity of disclosures. “ACCA’s research demonstrates that professional accountants play a crucial role in connecting purpose and performance,” she said, adding that ACCA continues to colla borate with regulators, universities, and employers to build the capabilities needed for

Real-Martin was recently in Malaysia, where she spoke at a focused session on charting Asean’s sustainable future under the Asean Business and Investment Summit 2025. – ACCAPIC

trustworthy sustainability reporting and assurance that attracts green investments. Real-Martin also acknowledged three key gaps in Asean’s sustainability reporting landscape, including fragmented frameworks, inconsistent regulation, and a shortage of skilled talent, all of which hinder regional alignment. Citing ACCA’s report Sustainability Reporting in Asean: An Overview of Current Developments , she said, “harmonisation around ISSB standards is critical for building investor confidence and comparability.” She noted that ACCA is investing human capital through professional education and continuous professional development that embeds sustainability, ethics, and assurance into core finance curricula, ensuring the region’s sustainability agenda remains both credible and investible. Real-Martin highlighted the need for strong ethical frameworks in Asean’s digital transformation, with digital trust as the foundation of its digital economy. Citing ACCA’s AI Monitor report, she said that finance professionals are well placed to act as digital guardians, applying professional scepticism, ethics, and accountability on how artificial intelligence (AI) and data are used. “Through collaborations with agencies such as Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation and national digital ministries, ACCA is pro

moting responsible AI adoption and enhancing assurance in cybersecurity and algorithmic transparency,” she said. Real-Martin said ACCA supports inclusive talent development by widening access to professional education, especially for women, rural, and underrepresented communities. She noted that in Malaysia, partnerships with Majlis Amanah Rakyat and the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA) aim to expand pathways for Bumiputera students and strengthen the national accounting pipeline, ensuring that as Asean’s economies evolve, everyone can participate in and benefit from the transition. Aligned with Malaysia’s goal of producing 60,000 professional accountants by 2030, ACCA is working closely with the Ministry of Finance, the MIA, and local universities to widen access and accelerate qualification pathways. Looking ahead, Real-Martin said part nership is the key to success in Asean’s next chapter. “Governments, regulators, educators, and the private sector must collaborate on consistent metrics, capacity-building, and talent development. Through our global insights and regional partnerships, we help transform shared ambition into measurable economic outcomes that make sustainability and digital growth defining strengths of Asean’s next chapter,” she added.

Plantation, tech, telco top sectors with net inflows KUALA LUMPUR: The plantation, technology and telecommunication sectors topped the list of sectors with net inflows last week, each sector raking in RM151.2 million, RM89.7 million and RM5.7 million, respectively. “The average daily trading volume (ADTV) experienced a broad-based increase last week, with local retailers and local institutions recording increases of 1.0% and 15.4% respectively, while foreign investors saw an increase of 6.1%,” it said in its report yesterday. recording US$915.2 million (M3.84 billion) in net foreign inflows. Among the markets tracked by MBSB, only India, South Korea, and Indonesia registered net foreign inflows, while the rest recorded net outflows, led by Taiwan, which posted the largest outflow in the region.

Meanwhile, the top three sectors that recorded net foreign outflows were financial services (-RM513.7 million), healthcare (-RM192.8 million), and utilities (-RM162.6 million). In its fund flow report for the week ended Oct 31, MBSB Investment Bank Bhd (MBSB) said that local institutions extended their net purchases to the fourth consecutive week, recording inflows of RM812.7 million. “At the same time, local retailers ended their seventh consecutive week of net selling, posting a net inflow of RM72 million.

MBSB also said that net selling by foreign investors extended to the fourth consecutive week, posting a net outflow of RM884.6 million, significantly higher than the previous week’s net outflow of RM14.6 million. Foreign investors were net sellers on all five trading days last week, with Monday seeing the highest net selling activity at RM244 million. Regionally, foreign investors ended their two-week consecutive streak of net selling,

India extended a four-week consecutive streak of net foreign purchases, recording the region’s highest net foreign inflows at US$826.2 million. Additionally, Indonesia saw its fourth consecutive week of net buying with foreign purchases of US$333.5 million, after the country introduced new rules allowing the central government to lend to local authorities and state-owned enterprises to finance development projects. – Bernama