Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai Appointed Chairman of EABC – Malaysia Chapter

 

On April 13, 2026, YBhg Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), has appointed YBhg. Tan Sri Dato’ (Dr.) Soh Thian Lai, President Emeritus of the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing (FMM), as the Chairman of the East Asia Business Council (EABC) – Malaysia Chapter, following the retirement of YBhg. Tan Sri Azman Hashim, Chairman Emeritus and Honorary Adviser of AmBank Group.

The EABC serves as the official private sector platform under the ASEAN+3 framework, bringing together business leaders from 13 economies (ASEAN Member States, China, Japan, and South Korea). The Council plays a key role in providing policy recommendations to ASEAN+3 leaders, focusing on regional economic integration, trade and investment, supply chain resilience, digital transformation, and support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Tan Sri Soh’s appointment reflects his longstanding contributions to the industry and is expected to further strengthen Malaysia’s representation and engagement in advancing regional economic cooperation