Dear Subscriber, FROM THE DESK OF THE ED 2020 - what an exciting year for the country! Malaysia’s vernacular 2020 has been a ‘marker’ year for many hopes and ambitions. Some we have met and some not yet. The important thing however is that we still aim high and strive to be the best and for a brighter future. This year looks like it will be action packed and a bit of a whirlwind. APEC meetings are underway with the first SOM (Senior Officials Meeting) happening in Putrajaya in February. It is also Visit Malaysia year and for Americans, 2020 is an election year. UPCOMING EVENTS Jan 22, 2020 (12 PM - 2 PM) Hotel Equatorial Penang Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Feb 12, 2020 (9:30 AM - 11:30 AM) AMERICAN MALAYSIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Feb 18 - 20, 2020 AMERICAN MALAYSIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia CHAMBER NEWS First MAEI Meeting of 2020 AMCHAM deployed two of its staff to Penang for the first AMCHAM's Malaysian American Electronics Industry [MAEI] meeting of 2020. This meeting serves as a platform for the members of the committee to share industry updates and to further discuss advocacy related matters pertaining to the Electrical & amp; Electronic industry. On 16 January 2020, AMCHAM held the first of its MP Chat Series. Members who attended the inaugural event were able to meet Yang Berhormat Tuan Wong Chen, MP for Subang and Chairman of the newly established Parliamentary Special Select Committee on International Relations and Trade. On Tuesday 14 January 2020, AMCHAM members in the financial services and technology sectors were invited to a roundtable discussion with Ms. Lailee Moghtader, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Treasury, to discuss the outlook, challenges, and opportunities for U.S. firms in Malaysia for these sectors. Extraordinary General Meeting AMCHAM held an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on 7 January 2020 to vote on some adjustments to the Chamber’s Constitution. These amendments are part of the ongoing efforts to ensure AMCHAM keeps up to date with the best practices of governance for a 21st-century organization. We thank the member companies that were able to come out and support the Chamber at these important meetings. SAVE THE DATES AmCham Cambodia: Business Opportunities In Agriculture in Laos & Cambodia The U.S. Embassies in Cambodia and Lao PDR, in partnership with AmCham Cambodia, USAID and the U.S. Commercial Service, are organizing a series of trade events on “Business Opportunities in Agriculture” from February 4-7, 2020. Mar 11-12, 2020 - AMCHAMs of Asia Pacific Business Summit 2020 The AMCHAMs of Asia Pacific (AAP) is offering an exclusive 20% discount to AMCHAM Malaysia members registering for the AAP Business Summit 2020. Register and enter the discount code “AMMSIA2020” at the checkout to enjoy the discount. To receive your complimentary ticket, please email .  This promotion will end by January 31, 2020, so sign up ASAP! APEC UPDATES Close to 1500 policymakers, business leaders and academics from 21 APEC member economies will gather in Malaysia’s administrative capital to deliberate and advance a policy agenda for the region’s most pressing issues in the digital era, including multilateralism, trade and investment, human capital development, and sustainability. TRENDING AROUND THE GLOBE AI is getting increasingly sophisticated at doing what humans do, but more efficiently, more quickly and at a lower cost. The potential for both AI and robotics in healthcare is vast. Just like in our every-day lives, AI and robotics are increasingly a part of our healthcare eco-system. This article highlights eight ways of this current transformation. With more than 50 per cent of the population convinced that “Malaysia’s digital economy is a work in progress” and 98 per cent calling for “organizations to provide safe and secure online transactions”, as reported by EY, the banking and financial industry is facing pressure to improve its Fintech capabilities to better serve consumers. Since 2006, the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index has been measuring differences between men and women in four key areas: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. This article elaborates on three ways to make the next decade the one when we finally achieve gender parity. DID YOU KNOW? Not a sport you expect to see coming out of Malaysia but indeed, we have our own baseball team. Not only did they win a Bronze at the SEA Games but next month they are headed to Hong Kong to compete in the Phoenix Cup 2020. Read more to connect, get involved or even sponsor the beginnings of this American sport in Malaysia. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT 2020 has arrived! AMCHAM celebrated the New Year by welcoming back our members and friends yesterday at the poolside of Villa Dainieli, a beautiful view across the pool and looking at the KL Tower view. We had a great turnout, not only members of AMCHAM but representatives from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), and the U.S. Embassy of KL. On 10 January, 2020, AMCHAM arranged for Business Performance Consultant, Rita Malvone, to introduce Objectives and Key Results (OKR) a goal-setting methodology to our members. Now that 2020 has arrived, and it would be wise to begin setting targets which will transform without boiling out the individual. SOCIAL MEDIA AND AMCHAM Keep up with AMCHAM by following us on Social Media and remember to tag us when posting notes from our member companies. Follow us on FaceBook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram @AmChamMalaysia CORPORATE PARTNERS 2020 The Corporate Partners Program showcases your strategic support for a strong Chamber across the year. Join the select group who work with us to ensure the Chamber is supported in a sustainable manner. In addition to your company’s visibility at all AMCHAM events, this support will also provide opportunities for greater access to AMCHAM programs for you and your staff in addition to VIP meetings. Help us ensure we have a Chamber that can collectively respond to the needs of U.S. business on the ground.