A display booth within UCSI's Blue Ocean Strategy Hall during the Green Business Forum 2011

Participants signing a pledge during the Green Business Forum 2011 held at UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur campus

UCSI University's Vice Chancellor, Dr Robert Bong conveying his welcome speech during the Green Business Forum 2011

UCSI University's Vice Chancellor, Dr Robert Bong presenting a token of appreciation to Yang Berusaha Hajah Nor’Aini bt. Abdul Wahab, Deputy Secretary-General of Green Technology & Water, Ministry of Green Technology & Water (KeTTHA)

An interactive session with renowned speakers and 'green' experts during the Green Business Forum 2011 held at UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur campus

An interactive session with renowned speakers and 'green' experts during the Green Business Forum 2011 held at UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur campus

Kuala Lumpur, 22 June, 2011 - UCSI University’s Faculty of Economics and Policy Science together with its Centre of Excellence for Research, Value Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CERVIE) successfully hosted a ‘Green Business Forum’ at its North Wing of the Kuala Lumpur Campus. The Forum was the first of its kind to be organised by The Leaders International Magazine, bringing together green experts and practitioners from government bodies, various private business sectors and environmental NGOs under one umbrella. 

Launched by Yang Berusaha Hajah Nor’Aini bt. Abdul Wahab, Deputy Secretary-General of Green Technology & Water, Ministry of Green Technology & Water (KeTTHA), the main objective of the Forum was to identify and capture ‘green’ ideas and practices towards a more advanced ‘green’ business, gearing to a ‘greener’, healthier and sustainable country. 

“Going ‘green’ is not just the concern of environmentalists or eco-warriors, but it is also for the consumption of entrepreneurs, industrialists, inventors and consumers at large,” said Yang Berusaha Hajah Nor’Aini bt. Abdul Wahab. 

“The growth of the ‘Green Technology’ industry, either in the manufacturing or the services sectors, is critical towards fulfilling the objectives of the ‘National Green Technology Policy’, where the industry would supply the green technology products to both the local and global markets, as well as create jobs that contribute towards the national economy,” she added. 

With respect to this, the budget speech for 2010 by the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak, announced the establishment of the ‘Green Technology Financing Scheme’ (GTFS) amounting to RM1.5 billion in an effort to improve the supply and utilisation of Green Technology. 

In line with this, Dr Robert Bong, UCSI University’s Vice Chancellor said, “At UCSI University, we too care about the environment as part of our mission to instil social responsibility into our students. With this in mind, UCSI University has, through CERVIE, committed RM4.8 million to research activities in 2011.” 

“Today, our goal is to enhance our commitment to develop our University as a platform for sustainable ‘green’ research to benefit not just us and our students, but the nation as a whole,” he added. 

Dr Robert Bong also announced a ‘Green Research Matching Fund’ to be awarded to projects that focus on piloting green initiatives and technologies. This grant is open to all academics in Malaysia. With Leaders Magazine committing RM5, 000 to this Matching Fund, UCSI University will commit up to RM50, 000 of funding for individual green research initiatives within this first year of implementation. 

The ‘Green Business Forum’ included workshop sessions with business networking opportunities, case studies on specific industries in ‘green’ business and their effects on business outcomes, as well as interactive sessions with renowned speakers and ‘green’ experts.