On behalf of BeLuxCham, we would like to invite our members to participate in the upcoming BELUXTALKS Series (physical event) regarding The Convenience of Work From Home (WFH) or Work In Office (WIO) that will be held on Thursday, 28 October 2021 at 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM at the Equatorial Hotel.

Due to the pandemic, there has been a new trend that has been set by many employees, but what is truly the ideal working environment for many working adults? The ideals of WFH and WIO bring many advantages and disadvantages as well however distinguishing between both while finding the ideal situation for ourselves and even for employees remains to be a million-dollar question.

The Commission adopted a report on the EU Digital COVID Certificate and its implementation across the EU. The report shows that the EU certificate has been a crucial element in Europe's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 591 million certificates generated. The certificate, which covers COVID-19 vaccination, test and recovery, facilitates safe travel for citizens, and it has also been key to support Europe's hard-hit tourism industry. The EU Digital COVID Certificate is a success worldwide: it has set a global standard and is currently the only system already in operation at international level. 43 countries across four continents are plugged into the system, and more will follow over the coming weeks and months.

As said by President Ursula von der Leyen in her 2021 State of the Union Address, the EU Digital COVID Certificate shows that “When we act together, we are able to act fast.”

Here are the highlights of the latest updated SOPs for Phase 4 of the National Recovery Plan (NRP):

Areas Involved:

WP Labuan, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Melaka, Selangor, WP Kuala Lumpur and WP Putrajaya

*This SOP should be read together with the Special SOP of the Federal Territory of Labuan

**For areas enforced by EMCO, the EMCO SOPs in the area is effective until the expiry date of the EMCO.

Effective Period:

For W P Labuan starting on 26 August 2021 from 12 01 am**

**Negeri Sembilan starts on 24 September 2021 (starting 12 01 am)

*** Pahang State starts on 8 October 2021 (starting 12 01 am)****

***The states of Melaka, Selangor, W P Kuala Lumpur and W P Putrajaya start on 18 October 2021 (starting 12 01 am)

On behalf of the EU-ASEAN Business Council, as a supporting partner, EUROCHAM Malaysia would like to invite our members to participate in the upcoming webinar by the EU-ASEAN Business Council regarding the ASEAN’s 2021 Digital Toolkit Series: Banking on Cross-Border Payments happening Friday, 29 October 2021 at 4 PM (SGT).

Digital payments are a key enabler for digital commerce, and cross-border transactions, in particular, are instrumental for the development of ASEAN’s economy – and not just for e-commerce. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a game-changer, accelerating the adoption of digital payments in a region where cash reigns supreme; movement restriction orders forced businesses to shift operations online and consumers began turning to e-commerce for everything from food delivery to buying essential goods. The region’s large base of underbanked customers is now also empowered to make online purchases as e-payment platforms proliferate.

The world around us is constantly changing at a pace much faster than one can imagine, causing much uncertainty, ambiguity, and unpredictability in businesses. Working in the new normal brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, there are new expectations for businesses. Organisations must evolve to stay competitive and survive this era of disruption.

Procurement agility has to be discussed today to help organisations survive. Get a better understanding of how the Procurement and Supply Chain functions are stepping up to support the ESG agenda while enabling digital transformations to support organisations in their cost savings and business growth. Digital challenges, procurement integrity, regulatory compliances are some of the key issues facing organisations.

Join us tomorrow, October 21, 2021, at 3 PM (+8 GMT) for our Advocacy Talks webinar with Vriens & Partners on the topic of Budget 2022 in the Time of Crisis and Political Compromise.

It will be an in-depth look at what Budget 2022 might hold for businesses, especially as the nation gears up for recovery and politicians look to compromise. We will look into the political, economic, and policy dynamics that are at play this year, moreover the reasons why this budget is more significant than in previous years.

This webinar will focus on this year’s unique political considerations that will impact the budget setting and approval process in parliament, in addition, the commitment to reform will be tested via the processes committed under the MOU between the government and the opposition. As well as there are unknowns that the government will have to consider as it plans for recovery in 2022, such as oil price outlook, need for booster vaccines, and more localized responses to COVID outbreaks.