SHAH ALAM: The sixth Selangor Investment & Industrial Park Expo 2026 (SPARK) is set to play a larger role in attracting long-term investments that support sustainable economic growth, as industrial parks across Southeast Asia compete more aggressively for foreign direct investment.
Selangor executive councillor for investment, trade and mobility Ng Sze Han said investors now have a wide range of choices throughout Asean, making it essential for the state to differentiate itself beyond industrial land availability.
He said Selangor’s strengths include its port and airport connectivity, close access to Kuala Lumpur’s financial services sector, an established network of advanced suppliers and a skilled, multilingual workforce.
“Selangor does not just offer industrial land; we offer a mature, resilient ecosystem for long-term growth,” he told SunBiz.
Ng said the state was also continuing to modernise its infrastructure, integrate greener industrial practices and improve regulatory processes to make investment implementation faster and more predictable.
“For global investors evaluating Selangor, the message is that when you invest here, you gain an enduring partner and a launchpad into the broader Asean market of over 680 million people,” he said.
SPARK 2026, scheduled for October, will focus on originating serious business deals rather than serving merely as a networking platform.
Ng said a dedicated SPARK Business Lounge will support this, where pre-arranged business-to-business meetings will be matched to specific investment, sourcing and supply-chain requirements.
The state government is working with bilateral chambers and industry groups including the Japanese Chamber of Trade & Industry, Malaysia (JACTIM), Korean Chamber of Commerce Malaysia (KOCHAM), Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce (MCCC), Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI), Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers Selangor, and the SME Association.
The event will also involve players from higher-value sectors such as aerospace and automotive manufacturing.
Ng said the structured sessions would bring international corporations seeking reliable regional suppliers together with local small and medium enterprises that can meet global requirements.
“Not every introduction will result in an immediate contract, but qualified meetings create the groundwork for joint ventures, supply contracts and long-term industrial partnerships,” he said.
He also noted that the industry response has been strong. SPARK 2026 will occupy almost 2,000 sq m across Halls 1 and 2 of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, with 222 booths planned. More than 74% of exhibition space has already been booked or reserved.
The expo will bring together industrial developers including Sime Darby Property, EcoWorld, PKNS, Cyberview, NCT Land, AME, Sunway Rawang City Sdn Bhd and Mapletree Investments Pte Ltd.
Regional investment promotion agencies such as Invest Pahang, Invest Negeri Sembilan and the East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) will also participate.
Ng said the mix of exhibitors gives investors access not only to Selangor industrial developments, but also to a wider national view of investment opportunities.
All 12 Selangor local authorities, or PBTs, will also be represented, including Shah Alam City Council (MBSA), Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) and Kuala Langat Municipal Council (MBDK).
“Having city councils present means businesses can deal directly with questions involving zoning, planning and municipal compliance. That can reduce delays and help speed up project timelines,” Ng said.
A key feature of the event will be the eNOL Industrial Clinic at Booth SW5 in SPARK West. The clinic is designed as an aftercare platform for companies that received No Objection Letter (NOL) approvals between 2020 and 2026.
Over five sessions, participating companies will meet agencies including the Selangor State Economic Planning Unit, Land and Mines Office, PLANMalaysia, Department of Environment, Malaysian Investment Development Authority, Public Works Department, Department of Irrigation and Drainage, and local authorities.
Ng said investment approval is only the first stage of a project. Companies often face difficulties after receiving a No Objection Letter (NOL), particularly in land conversion, environmental assessment and building approval processes, when agencies work separately.
“An investment only creates real economic value when construction begins, factories operate, and jobs are created. The eNOL clinic is meant to ensure investors are not left on their own after approval,” he said.
SPARK 2026 will also introduce a government-supported Hosted Delegates Programme for qualified foreign investors, corporate executives and trade decision-makers.
The three-day, two-night programme will include accommodation at the official hotel, airport transfers, guided exhibition tours, VIP networking access and pre-arranged B2B sessions across Selangor’s growth corridors.
The state is targeting trade partners including China, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom.
Ng said the aim was to attract leaders actively seeking supply-chain partnerships, manufacturing sites and technology investments in Southeast Asia.
SPARK will run as part of the Selangor International Business Summit 2026 (SIBS 2026), which marks its 10th anniversary this year. The summit will feature seven components held concurrently at KLCC.
Ng said investors do not evaluate industrial land, incentives, technology, partnerships and talent separately. They need to assess the entire operating environment before deciding where to invest.
The seven components are the Selangor Asean Business Conference for policy dialogue, SPARK for industrial parks, the Selangor Investment Forum for project pipeline visibility, the Selangor AI & Semiconductor Summit for artificial intelligence and semiconductors, Selangor Techsphere Summit for industrial automation, Selangor International Care Expo for the care economy, and Selangor Career Outreach Talent Expo for talent development.
He said the structure makes SIBS more than a conventional exhibition by allowing investors to examine supply chains, partnerships, regulatory support, and talent access in one place.
“Whether you are a multinational establishing a regional base or a local SME looking to scale, you can enter SIBS with an idea and leave with a clearer execution roadmap,” he said.
Invest Selangor has also launched the SIBS@ASEAN strategy, beginning with an activation in Bandung, Indonesia.
Ng said the approach recognises that states cannot simply wait for investment to arrive. They must engage businesses in regional markets and present Selangor’s value proposition directly.
More than 50 Selangor companies participated in the Bandung activation, meeting industry counterparts in West Java and exploring opportunities for export partnerships and cross-border supply-chain integration.
He described SIBS@ASEAN as a two-way economic bridge. While it helps Selangor companies explore overseas markets, it also positions the state as an entry point for regional businesses seeking to expand internationally.
The overseas engagements are intended to begin conversations that can later be converted into investments and partnerships at SIBS 2026, which will be held at KLCC from 14 to 17 October.
“SIBS@ASEAN takes Selangor to the region, and SIBS brings Asean back to Selangor to turn those conversations into long-term investments,” Ng said.
