The Federation of Malaysian Business Associations (FMBA) marked a milestone today with a soft launch of the Malaysia Industry Awards 2025 (MINDA 2025) and the ASEAN Business Community Development Forum (ABCD Forum). The event, held at Roti By D’Tandoor, brought together media partners for an appreciation hi‑tea. Both initiatives are scheduled to culminate in a flagship forum and award ceremony on 7 August 2025 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
This year’s MINDA Awards expands its scope beyond Malaysia to celebrate corporate champions across ASEAN. This regional reach uniquely aligns with Malaysia’s chairmanship of ASEAN in 2025, reinforcing FMBA’s commitment to cross‑border economic collaboration. Addressing attendees, FMBA Chairman Dato’ Seri Abdul Malik Abdullah said the theme “Champions of Change – Shaping ASEAN’s Future” reflects the awards’ ambition to elevate excellence across the region. He emphasized that the expansion arrives at an opportune moment and will help further business integration among ASEAN nations.
Since its inception, the MINDA Awards has been a respected platform honouring innovation, leadership and economic contributions in Malaysia. Now with ASEAN integration, the 2025 edition will present 40 accolades including the Lifetime Achievement Award, ASEAN International Award, MADANI Young Rising Star, MADANI Women’s Excellence, and sectoral awards for excellence, innovation and outstanding performance. The awards gala will attract business leaders, government officials and international delegates, offering a truly regional showcase of corporate achievement.
In tandem with the awards, FMBA introduces the ASEAN Business Community Development Forum (ABCD Forum). This forum addresses core themes of regional economic development under the banner “Empowering ASEAN’s Next Leap – Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation”. Supported by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) and the ASEAN Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the forum will feature distinguished speakers from across the region. They will tackle topics including ASEAN’s digital future, sustainable practices and workforce empowerment for SMEs. The speaker lineup includes ministers, corporate CEOs, regional trade figures and business leaders from Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, the Philippines, Brunei, and Myanmar.
A new ASEAN Business Connectivity (ABC) platform will also be unveiled during MINDA 2025. Developed to serve as a central online hub, the platform facilitates real‑time business networking, product promotion, cross‑border collaborations and export support across ASEAN. The ABC platform aims to elevate market visibility and competitiveness for participants, reinforcing FMBA’s vision of a more integrated regional economy.
The event is supported by over 200 business association presidents, including those from the Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Indian Chamber of Commerce, Malaysian Budget & Business Hotel Association, ASEAN Retail‑Chains & Franchise Federation, Branding Association Malaysia and Malaysia Retail Association. Their endorsement underlines MINDA’s status as a truly representative and respected institution within the commercial landscape.
As the programme moves forward to 7 August, FMBA looks forward to welcoming participants ranging from SMEs and startups to multinational corporations and trade associations across ASEAN. MINDA 2025 seeks to unify, inspire change and honour corporate leadership across borders setting a new benchmark for excellence in the region.