Millions of businesses worldwide leverage on a plethora of financial instruments and assistance to start, operate, or expand. The session will explore the current landscape and evolving needs of entrepreneurs across different growth stages. Dialogue will include emerging trends shaping the MSME sector, innovative fintech solutions, challenges and best practices in accessing capital, as well as alternative options that are gaining traction.

Mansor Shah Wahid
Deputy CEO (Exporters Development), Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE)

Roberto Leva
Unit Head, Trade and Supply Chain Division, Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Eugenia Oduraa Addo
Head of SME Banking, ACCESS Bank Ghana

Christy Ng
Founder and CEO, Christy Ng

Marisa Aisha Mohamed Razeek
ASEAN Regional Lead for SCOPE-Trade, International Trade Centre

Moderated by Hennie Heymans, CEO, DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa

The panel highlights the journeys of MSMEs from different countries as they share their experiences participating in cross-border trade. The conversation will hone in on the realities of managing small businesses while adapting to the complexities of selling abroad, from the early days of making the leap to presently finding success in the international marketplace.

Esteban Martinez
CEO, TMP Vanilla (Ecuador)

Jeff Liow
Director, King of Rims (Malaysia)

Beatrice Esguerra
Chief Brand Officer, Blackbough (Philippines)

Nitcharee Ujjin
CEO, Thumbinthai (Thailand)

Luat Nguyen
Sales and Marketing Director, NEXT LAB Co. Ltd. (Vietnam)

Moderated by Dr. Sarah Meinert, Head of GoTrade, DHL Group

Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are the backbone of global commerce, yet many still face barriers in accessing and leveraging digital trade opportunities. This session will delve into the transformative potential of digitalisation for MSMEs, exploring how connectivity, platforms, and policy frameworks can unlock new markets and drive inclusive growth. The discussion will highlight key enablers of digital trade, showcase innovative tools and partnerships, and examine the challenges MSMEs encounter in navigating the digital ecosystem. Participants will gain insights into scalable solutions and collaborative approaches to strengthen digital trade pathways for MSMEs worldwide.

Ir. Wan Murdani Wan Mohamad
Head of Digital Adoption Division, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC)

Pamela Mar
Managing Director, Digital Standards Initiative (DSI), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)

Jana Bante
Senior Policy Officer, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development Germany

Hussein Zawia
CEO, eRomman

Dr. Zul Ariffin
Managing Director, Export Oversea Academy

Christina Tee
President, Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Moderated by Julian Neo, Managing Director, DHL Express Malaysia and Brunei

Effective trade facilitation hinges on streamlining the rules that govern the movement of goods across borders. The panel will focus on the intricacies involved in maintaining the balance between economic openness and national security. Dialogue will pay particular attention to how the public and private sectors can cooperate in ensuring customs compliance, optimising regulatory processes, and propelling systemic efficiency.

Philippe Isler
Director, Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation

Chris Humphrey
Executive Director, EU-ASEAN Business Council

Jayvee Santos
Asia Pacific Regional Coordinator, Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

Chen Tien Yue
Executive Director, Royal Selangor

Raymond Yee
Vice President for Customs and Regulatory Affairs, DHL Express Asia Pacific

Moderated by Norita Syazana, Customs and Regulatory Affairs Manager, DHL Express Malaysia

Rising protectionism, tariffs, and retaliatory measures have led to protracted economic uncertainty and new rules in global trade. The session will explore the implications of shifting geopolitical lines as well as the opportunities and strategies to ensure resilience in an interconnected world amidst turmoil. Discussion will also revolve around how ASEAN as a bloc can navigate these challenges by expanding cooperation and collaboration on the trade and investment fronts.

YB Liew Chin Tong
Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry Malaysia

Johanna Hill
Deputy Director-General, World Trade Organisation (WTO)

Satvinder Singh
Deputy Secretary General, ASEAN Economic Community

Thomas Ogilvie
CHRO, DHL Group

Moderated by Dr. Oh Ei Sun, Senior Fellow, Singapore Institute of International Affairs

Video introduction by Prof. Steven Altman, Sr. Research Scholar and Director of DHL initiative on Globalisation, NY Stern School for Business