Kuantan, Pahang, 18 April 2026 – The Malaysia East Coast Trade and Entrepreneur Expo 2026 (MECTEE 2026) concluded successfully at Hotel Grand Darul Makmur, reinforcing the East Coast’s position as a growing hub for trade, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
A significant highlight of this year’s expo was the active involvement of the Faculty of Industrial Management (FIM), Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), which played a pivotal role in contributing intellectual insights, industry engagement, and thought leadership throughout the two-day programme.
FIM UMPSA’s participation reflects its continued commitment to bridging academia and industry, particularly in advancing technopreneurship, digital transformation, and sustainable business practices aligned with national and regional economic agendas.
During the event, FIM representatives were actively engaged in key segments of the programme, including the Pahang International East Coast Entrepreneurial Summit 2026 and various business forums. Their involvement brought forward academic perspectives grounded in real-world application, especially in areas such as innovation management, digital economy strategies, and entrepreneurial ecosystem development.
One of the key sessions, Business Forum 1: “Fintech, Islamic Finance and Halal Investment: Financing the Future of Halal Entrepreneurship,” provided a platform where academic expertise and industry experience intersected. Contributions from FIM UMPSA helped enrich discussions on financial innovation, halal ecosystem development, and strategic positioning of Malaysian entrepreneurs in the global market.
Beyond knowledge sharing, FIM UMPSA also strengthened its role as a strategic partner in talent development and research-driven solutions, supporting SMEs and entrepreneurs in navigating current economic challenges, including digital disruption and global market uncertainties.
The expo also witnessed strong collaboration between academia, government agencies, and industry players, where FIM UMPSA positioned itself as a key enabler in fostering evidence-based decision-making, innovation adoption, and entrepreneurial capacity building.
The event concluded with high engagement from participants, including entrepreneurs, students, policymakers, and industry leaders. The presence and contribution of FIM UMPSA further underscored the university’s role in shaping future-ready graduates and driving impactful research that benefits both industry and society.
MECTEE 2026 not only served as a platform for business networking and knowledge exchange but also highlighted the importance of academic institutions like UMPSA in leading regional economic transformation through innovation, collaboration, and sustainable development.
