AFFIN Trade Talk 2026

FMM President Mr. Jacob Lee Chor Kok delivered the Opening Address at AFFIN Trade Talk 2026, held today at Menara AFFIN @ TRX, which brought together industry leaders, financial institutions and business professionals to discuss strategies for navigating an increasingly complex global trade environment.

In his address, Mr. Jacob shared FMM’s perspectives on the challenges facing Malaysian manufacturers, including rising logistics costs, supply chain disruptions, working capital pressures and the need for greater collaboration between industry and financial institutions. He also highlighted the important role of trade finance, digital banking solutions and advisory support in strengthening business resilience and enhancing the competitiveness of Malaysian manufacturers.

FMM Vice-President Ir. Ter Leong Leng also participated as a panelist in the forum session titled “Navigating Global Trade Challenges & Market Uncertainty”,alongside representatives from AFFIN Group, MATRADE and the Malaysian Export Academy (MEXA). The discussion explored key issues affecting businesses today, including trade uncertainty, cost competitiveness, digitalisation, export readiness, supply chain resilience and the importance of leveraging the available support ecosystem to strengthen Malaysia’s manufacturing sector.

The forum provided a valuable platform for the exchange of perspectives between industry leaders, government agencies and financial institutions on practical strategies to help businesses navigate global market uncertainties. It also reinforced the importance of collaboration in supporting Malaysian manufacturers, particularly SMEs, to enhance their resilience, strengthen their competitiveness and seize new opportunities in international markets.