Junior World Entrepreneurship Forum makes Malaysian debut

• Malaysian chapter of Junior World Entrepreneurship Forum launched in partnership with Cradle and INTI
• Chapter now open to corporate sponsorships and partnerships

THE Malaysian chapter of the Junior World Entrepreneurship Forum (JWEF) has been launched, with a mission to provide local youth greater international exposure and entrepreneurial opportunities.
 
The JWEF is an extension of the World Entrepreneurship Forum (WEF), which was launched in 2008 by the EMYLON Business School and KPMG, and is a global community of students and young entrepreneurs.
 
The initiative is aimed at spreading the entrepreneurial spirit in all areas of society and to create a platform for students and young people to meet with entrepreneurs including social entrepreneurs, politicians and academics to share their success stories, latest findings and insights.
 
The launch event was hosted by Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd and INTI International Universities & Colleges, and was graced by M. Saravanan, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, who described this effort as “a smart partnership” encouraged by his ministry.
 
“I would like to commend Cradle and INTI for initiating the creation of JWEF Malaysia, presenting Malaysian youth with a unique platform that connects them to a global entrepreneurial ecosystem. The initiative offers precious first-hand experience of being involved in real projects with established organisations, like no other,” said Saravanan.
 
In his welcome address to attendees, Cradle chief executive officer Nazrin Hassan said the next generation of Malaysian entrepreneurs would be global from day one in mind-set, because of initiatives such as JWEF and the opportunities it offers for students in terms of exposure, knowledge and relationships.
 
“It’s about the creation of a generation that does not fear what’s outside our national borders, but in fact, looks forward to expanding beyond them. The youth that will come out from JWEF should be the kind of people who will realise today, that dreaming of conquering the Malaysian market alone, is too small an ambition,” he said.
 
INTI chief executive officer Amit Sevak said INTI’s collaboration with Cradle and JWEF is the institution’s latest initiative to empower students through international exposure, innovative learning and individual development.
 
“Connectivity and interactions with youth entrepreneurs in Malaysia and abroad is an effective means for students to gain valuable insights into career alternatives that will help them chart their path to success and make their mark on the world,” he added.
 
The Malaysian chapter of JWEF will be overseen by Michael Teoh Su Lim, in his role as chairman and advisor, who noted that Malaysians have all the potential to go global, whether it be through their business expansions overseas, export of locally developed products and solutions, or even via the transfer of expertise and knowledge of our talents abroad.
 
“Leveraging from JWEF’s global networks of over 15 chapters internationally and being the subsidiary body of the WEF based in 70 countries, we believe we will provide the platforms, resources and exposure for our young entrepreneurs to think and go global from Malaysia,” he said.

The setting up of the JWEF Malaysia Chapter is significant as Malaysia is only the third country in Asia, behind China and Singapore, to have a national JWEF Chapter, which makes JWEF Malaysia Chapter one of the pioneers in Asia.

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