Consul-General Meets with SAMENTA Northern Region Leaders
2026/8/7
On August 7th, Mr. Shinya Machida, Consul-General of Japan in Penang, met with representatives of the Northern Region of the Small and Medium Enterprises Association of Malaysia (SAMENTA), including Mr. Calvin Kwan, Chairman; Mr. Celvin Tan, Deputy Chairman; Mr. Henry Tye, Honorary Secretary; and Mr. Chiu Khai Mun, Chairperson of the Membership Committee of the National General Committee.
Established in Penang in 1986, SAMENTA is Malaysia’s oldest association for small and medium-sized enterprises. It supports SMEs across a wide range of sectors, including manufacturing, services, logistics, food and technology. Its current priorities include policy advocacy, capacity building, business matching, international market expansion, AI adoption, digitalisation and ESG initiatives.
During the meeting, the participants discussed the longstanding contribution of Japanese companies to industrial development, employment, human capital development and supply-chain formation in Penang and northern Malaysia. They also exchanged views on Japanese approaches to quality management, lean management and kaizen, as well as opportunities for cooperation between Japanese companies and local SMEs in smart manufacturing, high-precision manufacturing, semiconductors and AI through business matching, technology exchanges and industry visits.
SAMENTA representatives introduced their initiatives to promote the practical use of AI, including the nationwide “Hyperlocal AI Fest” covering 50 cities, and expressed their interest in further cooperation with Japanese SMEs and relevant organisations. The year 2027 will mark both the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Malaysia and the 50th anniversary of the decision to establish the Consulate-General of Japan in Penang. The Consulate-General will continue to deepen its dialogue with SAMENTA and other local business organisations and support new partnerships and exchanges between the business communities of Japan and northern Malaysia.
Established in Penang in 1986, SAMENTA is Malaysia’s oldest association for small and medium-sized enterprises. It supports SMEs across a wide range of sectors, including manufacturing, services, logistics, food and technology. Its current priorities include policy advocacy, capacity building, business matching, international market expansion, AI adoption, digitalisation and ESG initiatives.
During the meeting, the participants discussed the longstanding contribution of Japanese companies to industrial development, employment, human capital development and supply-chain formation in Penang and northern Malaysia. They also exchanged views on Japanese approaches to quality management, lean management and kaizen, as well as opportunities for cooperation between Japanese companies and local SMEs in smart manufacturing, high-precision manufacturing, semiconductors and AI through business matching, technology exchanges and industry visits.
SAMENTA representatives introduced their initiatives to promote the practical use of AI, including the nationwide “Hyperlocal AI Fest” covering 50 cities, and expressed their interest in further cooperation with Japanese SMEs and relevant organisations. The year 2027 will mark both the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Malaysia and the 50th anniversary of the decision to establish the Consulate-General of Japan in Penang. The Consulate-General will continue to deepen its dialogue with SAMENTA and other local business organisations and support new partnerships and exchanges between the business communities of Japan and northern Malaysia.