City University Malaysia held an international forum drawing over 450 attendees to its newly launched campus in Cyberjaya. Distinguished speakers from France and Malaysia were brought together in a panel discussion under the theme, “Building Sustainable Startups in Emerging Economies,” to examine the role of higher education, government, and law in entrepreneurship development.

Organised by City University Malaysia, the event featured three globally-recognised experts:

Professor Boualem Aliouat, Chancellor of IUT Nice Côte d'Azur, France, and Vice-Chairman of the African Council for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Adj. Prof. Rizal bin Dato’ Nainy, CEO of SME Corporation Malaysia, Adjunct Professor of City University Malaysia, and recipient of "CEO of the Year" by the Bumiputera Business Excellence Awards 2024.
Mr. Pierre Brochet, corporate lawyer with over 25 years of experience in London and New York, and President of the Union des Français de l’Etranger in Malaysia.

The event welcomed a distinguished group of international dignitaries, including Richard Fostier, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry France Malaysia, and representatives from foreign embassies. Also present were senior officials from SME Corporation Malaysia, in addition to key representatives from the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA Malaysia) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).

From City University Malaysia, the event was graced by Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Rosnizah Bt. Shaari, who was joined by members of the faculty and a strong showing of City U students.

Professor Dr. Rosnizah Bt. Shaari, Vice Chancellor of City University Malaysia, delivered a welcome address during the international panel talk held at City University’s new Cyberjaya campus.

The international panel discussion is part of City University Malaysia’s ongoing Eminent Speaker Series, a platform that brings industry leaders to their campus to share insights and expertise for the enrichment of its students.

Insights from the panel discussion—spanning law, business development, and academia—offered a layered view of how sustainable entrepreneurship could be supported and scaled. When asked, “How can someone build a startup alone without access to capital, a network, or a co-founder?”, each speaker offered a unique and insightful perspective.

(L-R) Moderated by Dr. Syamsul Muhammad (City University Malaysia), panellists Professor Boualem Aliouat, Adj. Prof. Rizal bin Dato’ Nainy, and Mr. Pierre Brochet shared their unique perspectives across the interconnected sectors of law, business and education.

“For young entrepreneurs, your business plan must be robust enough to attract investor interest,” shared SME Corp CEO Adj. Prof. Rizal bin Dato’ Nainy. “You need to be hungry, goal-oriented, willing to take calculated risks, and back up your ideas with strong analysis and numbers. That’s the X-factor.”

Mr. Pierre Brochet shared, “You can have a brilliant idea, and even capital, but because a disruptive startup will impact all social life, you need to involve the public and the state into your process.”

Professor Boualem Aliouat shared, “Money is not the key to success. If you can build a dream team around you, take care of them. If you believe you will succeed, you will succeed. If you believe you will fail, you will fail.”

The event drew a diverse crowd of international dignitaries, faculty members, academic staff, and students in City University Malaysia’s new campus in Cyberjaya.

Following the event, a poll conducted among student attendees revealed that 63% expressed interest in starting a business after graduation, while 75% said they would participate in a university-run startup competition in the future.

Husna bt. Mohammed Firaidi, an international student at City U, shared: “This was such a great opportunity because you’re not learning from just one perspective. You’re learning from three different ones—a lawyer, a CEO, and a university chancellor—each with their own expertise.”

City University Malaysia is ranked No. 6 in ASEAN by Applied HE™

City University Malaysia is ranked No. 6 Private University in ASEAN in the 2025 AppliedHE™ Rankings.

Ranked the No. 6 top private university in ASEAN by AppliedHE™, City University Malaysia is dedicated to building a strong track record of excellence. The university not only prioritises strong academic performance but also real-world insights through exclusive engagements with global thought leaders.

Established in 1984, City University Malaysia is one of the first private institutions in the country offering over 75 academic programmes—from Foundation to PhD—across its four campuses nationwide. With a strong emphasis on industry collaboration, the University has produced more than 40,000 graduates and proudly maintains a 99% graduate employability rate.

For more information about programmes offered at City University Malaysia, please contact our Student Counsellors: Malaysian Students: +60 12-648 0928
International Students: +60 17-391 1812
Website: City University Malaysia

This content is provided by City University Malaysia

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