KUALA LUMPUR (July 27): The just-concluded Invest Malaysia Kuala Lumpur (IMKL) 2017 conference has reaffirmed that Malaysia is an advanced emerging market with tremendous opportunities, according to Bursa Malaysia.

"Bursa Malaysia created IMKL 13 years ago to promote the Malaysian capital market and to showcase Malaysian companies to international and domestic investors," said its chief executive officer Datuk Seri Tajuddin Atan.

"The conference has since grown in size, outreach and participants. It is now seen as an important platform for robust discussions and game-changing conversations between fund managers, local companies and policy makers to shape and advance the Malaysian capital market.

"IMKL 2017 certainly serves to further enhance the visibility and profile of Malaysia in the eyes of the international investment community," Tajuddin said in a statement.

Meanwhile, CIMB Group Holdings Bhd, which co-sponsored IMKL 2017, said delegates and fund managers received a clear perspective of the country's strategic direction from policy makers and institutional investors at IMKL 2017.

"The viability, sustainability and dynamism of the Malaysian capital market underscore its attractiveness as a listing destination and a regional hub to access the 625-million strong Asean marketplace," said CIMB chief executive officer Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Aziz.

"We look forward to more collaborations with Bursa Malaysia to promote the progressive Malaysian capital market," he added.

IMKL 2017, now in its 13 edition, had welcomed 1,929 participants, comprising about 950 fund managers with total assets under management of US$19.9 trillion. The two-day conference concluded yesterday.

During IMKL 2017, Bursa Malaysia also launched its new market for small and medium enterprises — the Leading Exchange Entrepreneur Platform (LEAP) — an initiative to enhance the diversity and investment opportunities of Malaysia's capital market.