Scaling Beyond Borders: Structuring Business Expansion through Labuan IBFC, Malaysia
About the Webinar
As businesses increasingly expand beyond their home markets, navigating cross-border operations has become more complex. From regulatory considerations and operational efficiency to investment structuring and risk management, companies today require strategic frameworks that support sustainable regional growth.
This webinar will explore how Labuan IBFC serves as a strategic platform for companies seeking to streamline regional operations, facilitate cross-border transactions, and strengthen their presence across Asia and beyond. It will provide insights into Labuan IBFC’s ecosystem and value propositions, including holding companies, special purpose vehicles (SPVs), Islamic finance solutions, as well as investment, banking, and wealth management structures that support international expansion.
The session will conclude with a panel discussion featuring industry practitioners sharing practical perspectives on regional expansion strategies, cross-border structuring considerations, and risk mitigation approaches for businesses operating internationally.
Key Discussions
- Overview of Labuan IBFC’s value proposition and ecosystem for regional and cross-border expansion
- Structuring regional and cross-border business operations
- Investment, holding company, and SPV solutions for international business activities
- Islamic finance and cross-border structuring opportunities
- Risk mitigation strategies for regional expansion
- Practical insights from industry practitioners on scaling across borders
Speakers
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Ben Quah, Chief Executive Officer, Labuan IBFC Inc.
Ben Quah, Chief Executive Officer, Labuan IBFC Inc.
Ben Quah is the Chief Executive Officer of Labuan IBFC Inc., appointed to lead the jurisdiction’s next phase of growth as a premier international business and financial centre. With more than 20 years of experience in fintech, digital marketing, and regional business development across Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, and Singapore, he has built a strong track record in market expansion, ecosystem development, and cross-border collaboration.
Ben has led multi-jurisdictional platform launches, scalable growth programmes, and strategic partnerships with regulators, financial institutions, and technology providers. Recognised for his strategic clarity and values-driven leadership, he is focused on enhancing Labuan IBFC’s value proposition, strengthening engagement with key markets, and driving opportunities in wealth management, captive insurance, fintech, and Islamic finance to support sustainable, long-term growth. -
Leslie Tan, Deputy General Manager, Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI)
Leslie Tan, Deputy General Manager, Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI)
Leslie Tan is the Deputy General Manager of the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI).
With over 15 years of professional experience across the hospitality, food and beverage, retail, and non-profit sectors, he has developed strong expertise in stakeholder engagement, strategic partnerships, business development, and association management.
At MICCI, he oversees member engagement, stakeholder relations, and strategic partnership initiatives, working closely with government agencies, industry stakeholders, and the international business community.
Prior to joining MICCI, he served as General Manager of the ASEAN Retail-Chains & Franchise Federation (ARFF), where he led regional initiatives across ASEAN and China focused on membership growth, industry collaboration, and international business engagement. -
Serene Liaw, Deputy Director, Strategic Planning and Investor Relations, Labuan IBFC Inc.
Serene Liaw, Deputy Director, Strategic Planning and Investor Relations, Labuan IBFC Inc.
Serene Liaw is the Deputy Director of Strategic Planning and Investor Relations Unit of Labuan IBFC Inc., leading the market development initiatives to expand Labuan IBFC's presence in identified international markets and oversees the Labuan IBFC China Desk, which facilitates the establishment of Chinese-funded companies in the Labuan International Business and Financial Centre (Labuan IBFC). Labuan IBFC Inc. is the jurisdiction’s official market development agency and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Labuan Financial Services Authority (Labuan FSA).
Prior to joining Labuan IBFC Inc., Serene was with Labuan FSA for over 10 years, where she headed the Business Policy Unit. Her hands-on experience as a regulator in policy formulation and international tax compliance has given her a deep understanding of financial solutions as well as a solid foundation in the promotion and market development initiatives of Labuan IBFC. Labuan FSA is the statutory regulatory authority for Labuan IBFC, under the purview of Ministry of Finance, Malaysia. -
Wong Man Yee, Executive Director, Crowe KL Tax KL Sdn. Bhd.
.jpeg "Wong Man Yee, Executive Director, Crowe KL Tax KL Sdn. Bhd.")
Wong Man Yee, Executive Director, Crowe KL Tax KL Sdn. Bhd.
Man Yee has over 20 years of experience in a series of tax engagements relating to managing the tax compliance affairs of clients, providing tax advisory, corporate tax planning, group tax review to improve tax efficiencies, advising on withholding tax, evaluating suitable tax incentives, putting through incentive applications to various relevant authorities, advising on real property gains tax, capital gains tax and stamp duty exemptions.
She is actively involved in tax audits and investigation and capital statement review. She is working with local and multinational corporations as well as high net-worth individuals to develop approach and solutions in handling their tax audits, tax investigations and withholding tax audits by the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (IRBM). -
Chan Chee Hume, Principal Officer, Labuan Insurance Management Services Limited
Chan Chee Hume, Principal Officer, Labuan Insurance Management Services Limited
Chan Chee Hume serves as Principal Officer and Board Director of Labuan Insurance Management Services Limited, where he oversees the company’s overall operations in Labuan and ensures its strategic objectives are achieved in line with regulatory and corporate governance standards.
He has more than 20 years of experience in the general insurance industry across Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand, having held senior leadership roles including Operations Director, Chief Operating Officer, and Asia Pacific Operations Manager for both local and international insurance companies. His expertise includes corporate planning and strategy, corporate transformation, and operations management.
Hume holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree from the United Kingdom and a Master of Business Administration (MBA). He is also a Registered Financial Planner (RFP) and a member of the Malaysia Financial Planning Council, as well as a certified Compliance Officer with a strong focus on regulatory compliance, ethical leadership, and corporate governance. -
Dato’ Nor Fazlina Mohd Ghouse, TEP, Chief Executive Officer, Maybank Trustees Berhad
Dato’ Nor Fazlina Mohd Ghouse, TEP, Chief Executive Officer, Maybank Trustees Berhad
Dato’ Nor Fazlina Mohd Ghouse, TEP is the Chief Executive Officer of Maybank Trustees Berhad, where she leads trustee services for individuals and corporates while driving strategic transformation. She is also a founding committee member and current Secretary of STEP Malaysia, a global professional body dedicated to helping families plan, protect, and transition wealth across generations.
With more than 20 years of experience in private banking, trusts, fiduciary services, and family office solutions, Dato’ Nor Fazlina has advised UHNW and HNW families across Labuan IBFC, Jersey, the United Kingdom, and Singapore. She is known for crafting bespoke wealth transfer strategies and sustainable family office structures that preserve legacies for the long term. -
Kee Shao Yee, Partner, Richard Wee Chambers Advocates & Solicitors
Kee Shao Yee, Partner, Richard Wee Chambers Advocates & Solicitors
Kee Shao Yee is a corporate lawyer with cross-border expertise in foreign direct investment, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and project financing. She is qualified to practice law in both Malaysia and China, having served with Grandall Law Firm (Beijing) and Richard Wee Chambers.
Shao Yee specialises in structuring and negotiating complex international transactions in both English and Mandarin, with extensive experience advising financial institutions, multinational corporations, development finance institutions, and impact investors. Her work spans green financing, financial inclusion initiatives, outbound investments, and cross-border M&A across Asia-Pacific, China, and Europe.
She also served as Deputy Secretary General of the Malaysian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China from 2017 to 2019. -
Norazlin Hj Abd Jalil, Marketing Director, Hans Advisory & Trust Co Ltd.
Norazlin Hj Abd Jalil, Marketing Director, Hans Advisory & Trust Co Ltd.
With over 30 years in banking, Islamic finance, and international business advisory, Norazlin specialises in structuring tax-efficient, Shariah-compliant cross-border investments. She currently sits on the Board of Crestpoint Investment Bank Ltd (Labuan FSA) and serves as Independent Non-Executive Director at Holborn Capital Partners (Securities Commission Malaysia).
As former Director of Business Development at Labuan IBFC Inc., she advised corporates, legal advisors, HNWI’s and governments across ASEAN, the Middle East, East Asia on Labuan entities, private funds, Islamic Finance, Wealth Management and industrial expansion structures. A frequent speaker in more than 20+ countries, she maintains strong working relationships with Consulate General offices and key Malaysian government agencies internationally to facilitate Labuan IBFC structures and market entry.
