Selangor marked a significant milestone in 2026 as the Selangor International Business Summit (SIBS) celebrated its 10th edition, underscoring the state’s role as a leading economic hub in Malaysia. The event is scheduled from October 14 to 17 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, with organisers targeting RM8 billion in potential transactions and more than 500 business-matching sessions.
According to Datuk Hasan Azhari Idris, chief executive officer of Invest Selangor, the state’s official investment promotion agency, investor priorities have evolved over the past decade from singular factors to a comprehensive evaluation of the entire business ecosystem. Investors now consider multiple elements including industrial land availability, government incentives, technical support, technology adoption, and critically, access to skilled talent.
To address these diverse needs, SIBS 2026 will feature seven integrated components, combining four established programmes with three newly introduced initiatives. The core events include the Selangor Asean Business Conference, which will host international policymakers and feature a special address by the World Bank; the Selangor Investment and Industrial Park Expo (SPARK), focused on shaping a multi-sectoral investment ecosystem; the Selangor Artificial Intelligence and Semiconductor Summit, promoting high-tech manufacturing and integrated circuit design; and the Selangor International Care Expo, which explores economic opportunities arising from demographic changes.
The new additions this year are the Selangor Investment Forum (SIF), providing high-level investment insights; the Selangor Techsphere Summit, highlighting advancements in enterprise digitalisation and smart city applications; and the Selangor Career Outreach Talent Expo, aimed at aligning local workforce skills with industry demands.
A notable feature of this year’s summit is the introduction of the eNOL Industrial Clinic within the SPARK exhibition. This initiative offers support to companies that have received No Objection Letters (NOL) between 2020 and 2026 by facilitating direct engagement with relevant agencies to address complex post-approval processes such as land conversion and environmental assessments. Hasan Azhari emphasized that converting investment approvals into operational factories and job creation remains a priority for Invest Selangor.
Additionally, Invest Selangor has collaborated with the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (Mida) to launch the Mida-SIBS Hosted Delegates Programme. This allows participating investors to visit industrial parks, meet state representatives, and attend the SIF to explore investment prospects across Malaysia.
Since its inception in 2015, SIBS has grown substantially, hosting over 400 booths initially with a local focus and now attracting more than 330,000 visitors and facilitating RM30.56 billion in potential business transactions. Hasan Azhari highlighted that these achievements reflect strong investor confidence and demonstrate Selangor’s transformation into a mature, high-value investment ecosystem.
Invest Selangor continues to provide comprehensive support across all investment stages—from pre-investment engagement and facilitation during setup to post-investment assistance for expansion and reinvestment. This integrated approach has contributed to the state’s robust economic performance.
In the second quarter of 2026, Selangor recorded RM69.9 billion in approved investments across 835 projects, including RM28.3 billion in domestic investment and RM41.6 billion in foreign direct investment, with an expected creation of 23,773 jobs. The state’s economy expanded by 6.3% in 2025, outpacing the national growth rate of 5.2%, and accounted for 26.5% of Malaysia’s gross domestic product, driven by strong growth in services, manufacturing, and construction sectors.
Looking ahead, Invest Selangor aims to attract and retain investors in higher-value industries such as semiconductors, digital technologies, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and life sciences. The objective is to generate quality employment, enhance supply chains, cultivate talent, and create business opportunities for local enterprises.