UnBound®, in collaboration with the High Commission of Canada in Malaysia, hosted the Malaysia–Canada Trade Engagement and Cooperation Meeting at the Imperial Lexis, Kuala Lumpur. Held concurrently with the Smart City Expo Kuala Lumpur (SCEKL) 2025, hosted by the Ministry of Digital, Malaysia and the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), the meeting marked an important step in strengthening Malaysia–Canada bilateral partnership through trade, diplomacy, and technology collaboration.
The engagement created a platform for Malaysia and Canada to deepen bilateral relations, moving beyond trade to embrace joint innovation and shared technology development. Discussions focused on advancing cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), GovTech, Shariah-compliant ICT systems, and digital infrastructure investment — areas vital to both nations’ future economies and regional influence in ASEAN and North America.
Mr. Ryan Kang, Director of UnBound Malaysia & Australia, stated: “For Malaysia, this is not just another event — it is a statement of intent. By aligning bilateral engagements with global smart city conversations, we are proving that Malaysian innovation can shape international agendas. I am honoured that UnBound® could play a central role in connecting Malaysia and Canada at such a crucial time, while also contributing to ASEAN’s digital growth.”
A highlight of the meeting was the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Exchange Ceremony between UnBound Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia) and Illumia Labs Pte Ltd (Canada), marking a new chapter of collaboration in Agentic AI for government and city technologies.
On the partnership, Ms. Natalie Loi, Head of Technology at UnBound®, commented: “This MoU represents more than a partnership — it is a bridge for technology co-creation. Together with Illumia Labs, we will advance Agentic AI solutions that enhance governance, smart city management, and citizen engagement. This collaboration reflects our shared belief that innovation must be inclusive, scalable, and globally relevant.”
The exchange was witnessed by Ms. Naneecharam Muniandy, Trade Commissioner, High Commission of Canada in Malaysia, whose presence underscored Canada’s commitment to strengthening ties with Malaysia and fostering bilateral cooperation that extends across the ASEAN region.
The meeting saw active participation from leading Malaysian and Canadian organisations, including Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), China Mobile, the High Commission of Canada in Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Malaysia (CanCham), and the Aisling Group. Their involvement reinforced the importance of cross-sector collaboration in advancing bilateral trade, technology partnerships, and economic growth.
