Building Asia-NZ Connections in Malaysia
In early December, 12 young leaders from across Asia and New Zealand attended an intensive five-day offshore forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in order to learn about and develop stronger ties between Asia and New Zealand.
Forum participant Andrew Tringham, a tax consultant for KPMG in Wellington, saw huge benefits in experiencing Asia firsthand. “I applied for the offshore forum because I feel the best way I can increase my knowledge and understanding of Asia is by actually spending time in the region. Learning about Asia through experience is so much more beneficial and effective than through reading a book, or being told about the place.”
The forum, from 7-11 December, included meetings with high-profile agriculture and business experts, a roundtable discussion with the Institute of Strategic and International Studies’ chief executive, a meeting with Malaysian university students and cultural activities such as visiting the Islamic Art Museum.
Madhusudan Vasudevamurthy, a scientist/research programme manager at Plant and Food Research, was excited to be in Malaysia for cultural and career reasons. “I want to see how different Asian cultures have come together to make Malaysia ‘truly Asia'. Having lived in India for the first 21 years of my life, I have seen communal tensions on a day-to-day basis, and I’d like to understand how Malaysia is maintaining communal harmony and how different laws/rights for different religious/communal groups are accepted there.”
Vasudevamurthy was also interested in Malaysia's scientific relationships with other countries. “I would like to know if there are any business opportunities for New Zealand research institutes to contribute to Malaysia's biotechnology and nanotechnology industries.”
For Karl Loo, a tech entrepreneur based in Hong Kong and Shanghai, the forum was about reconnecting with New Zealand.
“I have been in Asia for around three years, and I felt I was losing touch with New Zealand. Having previously attended an Asia:NZ event in Beijing, I knew that events coordinated by the Young Leaders Network bring together some interesting people.”
He was also looking for potential business opportunities.
Image: Young leaders at the forum.
