GES 2013 ends with a ‘bang’, successfully clinches RM12.65 mln

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GARNERING OVERSEAS INTEREST: File photo shows participants watching as United States President Barack Obama delivered a video address at the GES 2013 on Friday. The summit, which ended with a “bang”, also attracted many US companies and angel investors, expressing their interest to work with Malaysia and fund projects. — Bernama photo

KUALA LUMPUR: The two-day Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) held in Kuala Lumpur, the first ever in Southeast Asia, has successfully clinched business deals worth RM12.65 million.

Finance Ministry Secretary-General Tan Sri Dr Mohd Irwan Siregar Abdullah said the amount was tremendous as the summit never set any monetary target but more to empower and connect entrepreneurs especially youth and women.

He said the summit, which ended with a ‘bang’, also attracted many US companies and angel investors, expressing their interest to work with Malaysia and fund projects.

“The US officials were overwhelmed by the support given in terms how we (Malaysia) organised the event and side events. They are amazed with the great success,” he told reporters after the closing of the fourth edition of the summit here.

Mohd Irwan Siregar, who is also the chairman of the Organising Committee, said the government would also look at the possibility of organising similar summit as an annual event in the country.

“We also don’t want this to be a one-off event. There is a suggestion for Malaysia to organise this (summit) as an annual event like in Davos, Switzerland, we have (an) annual meeting. We will study about this and its potential. Maybe in the region, Malaysia is suitable as a hub for entrepreneurs development,” he said.

Mohd Irwan Serigar said the success of GES 2013 Kuala Lumpur would spinoff other successes such as the 1Malaysia Entrepreneurship (1Met) initiative which will be the training ground for a whole new breed of local entrepreneurs.

GES 2013 saw more than 4,700 delegates from 123 countries attending the two-day summit with a total of 105 speakers from 26 countries delivering presentations and holding discussions.

During the closing ceremony, Mohd Irwan Serigar announced that Morocco as the next GES host in 2014.

The GES is a follow-through on US President Barack Obama’s emphasis on entrepreneurship as a pillar of the US global engagement, underscoring the importance of entrepreneurship as one of the most powerful ways to improve economic circumstances. — Bernama