KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 (Bernama) -- YB Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed, the Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI) has urged young Malaysians to play a central role in the growth and development of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), uniting and cooperating with their counterparts in other member nations to raise the profile and influence of the fast-growing region.

YB Dato’ Sri Mustapa was speaking to a group of 40 students at the MY ASEAN Leadership Workshop organised by Talent Corporation Malaysia (TalentCorp) in Lanai Kijang, Kuala Lumpur. The three-day workshop, which finished on Friday, kicked off the inaugural MY ASEAN Internship programme, which will place top students from Malaysia and other ASEAN nations in leading Malaysian companies for three months, so they can experience living and working in another ASEAN country.

ASEAN is one of the world’s fastest growing economic regions, and is home to some 600 million people. Its population is twice the size of the US and bigger still than the European Union. At current growth rates, ASEAN should become the fourth-largest market after the EU, US and China by 2030.

“Today’s young Malaysians, have an incredible opportunity in ASEAN. Right on their doorstep, there is huge economic potential,” stated YB Dato’ Sri Mustapa. “Be ambassadors for the ASEAN region, recognising that to be competitive in today’s globalised economy, you need to embrace an international mindset and think beyond the borders of your country,” YB Dato Sri advised the MY ASEAN interns.

As part of the MY ASEAN Internship programme, Malaysian students have been placed with companies in Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia, with other destinations still to be finalised. ASEAN students from member states including Myanmar, Indonesia and Vietnam will intern in Malaysia.

The companies involved in the MY ASEAN Internship programme are: AirAsia, Axiata, BDO, CIMB, Digi, GE, Maybank, Nestle, P&G, Securities Commission Malaysia, Sime Darby, Sunway Group, UEM and ZICOlaw.

“I want the programme to grow. People look up to ASEAN and it can unite people from different backgrounds and cultures. Young Malaysians have a central role to play in this, and I look
forward to seeing more of them and their counterparts working and thriving together in a bigger, stronger, inclusive ASEAN,” the Minister added.

During the MY ASEAN Leadership Workshop students were prepared for their time abroad, working through team activities and learning sessions on topics including Understanding Team Dynamics in ASEAN, The Attitude of a Leader, and Internships as a First Career. They were also given talks by notable speakers including Tan Sri Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria, Secretary-General of MITI; Zulfa Ashida Zulkifli, Group Head, People Department at AirAsia; and Noelle Lim, BfM Producer and 2015 Eisenhower Fellow.

The MY ASEAN Internship programme is a collaboration between the MITI and TalentCorp to increase awareness of the ASEAN region among youth in Malaysia.

JOINTLY ISSUED BY MITI & TALENTCORP
Members of the Media may contact TalentCorp’s Communications Unit at tel no. 03-78397051/019-3470228 (Mariena Malek) or 03-78397045 / 019-2793945 (Emma Delima Ali) or e-mail: mariena@talentcorp.com.my / emma.ali@talentcorp.com.my

About Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp):
TalentCorp was established on 1 January 2011 under the Prime Minister’s Department to formulate and facilitate initiatives to address the availability of talent in line with the needs of the country’s economic transformation. Collaborating closely with relevant Government agencies and employers in priority economic sectors, TalentCorp develops demand-driven initiatives to enhance graduate employability, optimise Malaysian professionals, engage Malaysians abroad
and facilitate foreign talent.

SOURCE: Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp)