KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 7 (Bernama) -- In an effort to empower youths to start playing a role in shaping ASEAN's future, CIMB Foundation ("the Foundation") organised the fifth edition of its Young ASEAN Leaders ("CIMB YAL"), this time in partnership with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).

CIMB YAL is an annual event that promotes learning, networking and cross-cultural understanding amongst ASEAN youths. This year's programme brought together 50 undergraduates from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam for a four-day workshop on ASEAN's economic future, with the theme ‘Sharing Economy Beyond Boundaries’. The programme content is specially curated every year to help these youths foster a better understanding of current issues, and a deeper sense of shared responsibility in shaping ASEAN’s sustainable future based on the principle of inclusivity.

The programme, which features different themes every year, is also aimed at creating a platform for young ASEAN leaders to share experiences and be inspired to initiate programmes that benefit their respective home communities. This year’s theme – Sharing Economy Beyond Boundaries – focuses on two sub-topics, firstly, the Fourth Industrial Revolution characterised by new technologies that blur the lines between the physical and virtual worlds, defining new ways for us to live, work and connect and secondly, the concept of a sharing economy that aims to democratise and leverage on a community's collective physical and intellectual resources.

Dato’ Hamidah Naziadin, Chief Executive Officer, CIMB Foundation said, “It is imperative that youths be empowered to help us shape the future of ASEAN, for they are the ones who will inherit it from current leaders. And what better time than during their undergraduate years to inculcate in them the importance of embracing and promoting ASEAN's diversity to maintain its strength, peace and prosperity as an economic bloc supporting over 630 million people?"

The four-day workshop discussed ASEAN Identity and Unity, Entrepreneurship in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Socio-economics of ASEAN countries, and Online Web Creation and eCommerce. There was also a special panel session on ‘Entrepreneurship’ featuring successful young entrepreneurs across the ASEAN region. Key speakers for the panel session include Ambika Sangaran (Partner, Biji-Biji Initiative), Mohamed Ismail Shaik (CEO and Co-Founder, Jom Tumpang), Wan Nong Muzafar (CEO, ILM Legacy Sdn. Bhd.), Rhonwyn Hagedorn (Founder and Managing Director, Project WHEE), and Ilylia Kamaruzaman (Founder and Managing Director, Roboticist Malaysia).

“The Fourth Industrial Revolution has given rise to a borderless world where collaborative and on-demand economy is fast becoming the norm, democratising the way goods and services are supplied, and information is shared. Our aim is for the participants to not only brainstorm on opportunities afforded by this new tech-defined operating landscape, but also reflect on how such developments may exclude pockets of society. The key to ASEAN’s future success lies in these youths, whom we hope will develop into holistic strategists and effective change agents who can successfully embrace the new frontier, anticipate the next, and most importantly address the pressing needs of tomorrow to ensure ASEAN's sustainable success as a region," added Hamidah.

ABOUT CIMB FOUNDATION

CIMB Foundation is a non-profit organisation set up to implement CIMB Group’s corporate social responsibility and philanthropic initiatives. Established in November 2007, CIMB Foundation is tasked with strategising and implementing corporate responsibility initiatives, disbursing millions to various programmes related to community development, sports and education.

The Foundation believes in long-term sustainable growth and giving back to society. Its initiatives are aimed at empowering communities in a transparent, measurable and accountable way to enable them to be independent and enhance development. The Foundation focuses on three specific areas: Community Development, Sports and Education.

In the past 10 years, CIMB Foundation has disbursed RM120 million through 962 projects benefiting 700,000 people in the communities served by CIMB Group, making CIMB Foundation one of ASEAN's leading CSR champions.

ABOUT UNIVERSITI KEBANGSAAN MALAYSIA

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), also known as The National University of Malaysia, was set up in 1970 as the first public university that uses Bahasa Melayu as the medium of instruction. It has come a long way since then and it now confidently faces the challenges of globalisation of higher education,
accommodating the English language whilst remaining rooted in local language and cultures.

UKM has 12 faculties, a Graduate School of Business (UKM-GSB), as well as 14 research institutes. The research institutes include the Institute of Malay World Civilisation (ATMA), Institute of Environment and Development (LESTARI), Institute of Malaysian and International Studies (IKMAS), Institute of Space Science (ANGKASA), Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics (IMEN), Institute of Solar Research (SERI), and Institute of Ethnic Studies (KITA).

The university’s main campus in Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan is situated in a valley surrounded by hills and green areas, providing a serene and conducive environment for learning and knowledge exploration. UKM also has a 20-hectare medical campus in Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur and a UKM Medical Centre (UKMMC) in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.

SOURCE : CIMB Group 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: 
Name : Suria Zainal
Head
Group Corporate Communications
Group CEO’s Office
CIMB Group Holdings Berhad
Tel: +603 - 2261 0638
Email: suriawati.zainal@cimb.com

--BERNAMA