KUALA LUMPUR: Local and foreign Chinese entrepreneurs attending the 17th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention (WCEC) to be held in Malaysia next month will hear from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Besides launching the major global event, a 30-minute question-and-answer session is also slated for participants to hear from Anwar.

Scheduled for 9th to 11th September at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, the event organised by the Associated Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Malaysia (ACCCIM) has received overwhelming response from foreigners with 3,000 seats already taken up.

Malaysian entrepreneurs are urged to sign up as there are limited seats left for a total of 1,500 seats.

In a press briefing Monday, ACCCIM president Tan Sri Low Kian Chuan  highlighted the theme of the event as “Reimagineering the Future”.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook; Investment, Trade and Industry Minister  Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz; Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming; Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing; and Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang will also be present at the event.

Low emphasised the six major sectors featured at WCEC – food and agriculture, automotive, consumer goods, IT and technology equipment, medical devices and healthcare, with exhibitions, site visits, study tours and post-convention business missions.

“The site visits will take international participants to other states. Besides exploring local attractions and understanding the Malaysian culture, they will also have the chance to uncover numerous business opportunities,” he added.

Business matching sessions will help establish international partnerships through pairing of local and foreign firms, connecting Malaysian businesses with their foreign counterparts.

A total of 400 meetings have been planned and successful matches will have the opportunity to sign MOUs immediately.