Global Experts, New Technologies, and Professional Learning meet at KLCC for Malaysia’s Built Environment

9 September 2025

KUALA LUMPUR: ENGINEER & MARVEX 2025 was officially launched today by Deputy Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Fadillah Yusof at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, marking the commencement of four days packed with exhibitions, conferences, and professional development opportunities for the engineering and HVAC&R industries.

Organised collaboratively by The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM), the Malaysian Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Association (MACRA), and C.I.S, the event has established itself as ASEAN’s premier trade and knowledge platform for the built environment.

The exhibition, occupying over 8,500 square metres across five halls and featuring more than 250 exhibitors from ten countries, is central to ENGINEER & MARVEX 2025. It showcases innovations aligned with Malaysia’s development agenda, including advancements in infrastructure, healthcare, and clean energy adoption. With an anticipated RM450 million in business transactions this year, the event continues to make a direct contribution to Malaysia’s economic growth.

The conferences play a vital role in fostering talent development, sustainability, and the setting of industry standards. Over 80 hours of content will be delivered through Malaysia’s Largest Engineering Symposium and Conference, which features eight concurrent symposiums under the IEM Convention. Among these are three flagship events: the Kuala Lumpur Engineering Forum (KLEF), the MARVEX Conference, and the A.C.E. Conference, complemented by Power Talks. These platforms directly support Malaysia’s long-term development goals under the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13) and the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), preparing engineers and professionals to realise the nation’s ambitions in clean energy, healthcare, and the digital economy.

During the opening ceremony, the Deputy Prime Minister, who also serves as Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA), emphasised the importance of aligning industry growth with national priorities. He highlighted the critical need for talent development, noting that Malaysia faces a shortage of professional engineers compared to developed nations such as Germany and France. To address this, he stressed the importance of strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and STEM pathways to produce industry-ready graduates, promoting lifelong learning and certification to keep pace with technological advancements. He also underlined the role of platforms like ENGINEER & MARVEX in providing continuous professional development and cross-sector exposure, emphasising that the goal is not just more engineers, but the right engineers capable of designing smart cities, resilient infrastructure, renewable energy grids, and sustainable water systems.

Fadillah underscored that achieving these ambitions requires collaboration across sectors. He praised ENGINEER & MARVEX as an excellent example of public-private partnership, uniting professional bodies like IEM, industry associations such as MACRA, private sector innovators, and government agencies. Such cooperation can accelerate project implementation under RMK13, enhance regional cooperation on HVAC&R standards, and position Malaysia as a competitive hub for sustainable engineering and technology.

Following the launch, the Deputy Prime Minister toured the exhibition, witnessing firsthand some of the industry's latest innovations. Highlights included live demonstrations of the Hybrid Operating Theatre, Battery Energy Storage Systems, and Data Centre Infrastructure.

C.I.S President Dato’ Vincent Lim emphasised the exhibition’s pivotal role in translating national aspirations into tangible outcomes. “ENGINEER & MARVEX showcases real-world engineering and HVAC solutions from industry leaders that drive urban development, bolster national resilience, and create opportunities for high-value industries. It’s not just about solutions; it’s about shaping the future of our industries, fulfilling national ambitions, and strengthening ASEAN’s position on the global stage,” he said.

Meanwhile, IEM President Ir. Prof. Dr Jeffrey Chiang highlighted the evolving landscape of the built environment and the increasing importance of engineers embracing emerging technologies. “As urbanisation and infrastructure development accelerate across ASEAN, engineering and HVAC&R systems are more vital than ever. The future built environment demands intelligence, flexibility, energy efficiency, and resilience.”

He added, “This exhibition and conference are more than showcases of cutting-edge technology; they embody innovation, collaboration, and regional synergy. From sustainable buildings to smart urban systems, from energy-efficient cooling to advanced digital engineering, the solutions discussed here will shape the quality of life for generations to come across Southeast Asia.”

MACRA President Peter Tan pointed to the regional significance of the MARVEX Conference, stating, “At the inaugural ASEAN-China-Japan-Korea-USA HVAC Forum, we will demonstrate why ASEAN is not just catching up but is a living lab where the future of HVAC is being developed and scaled. Strong industries are built on robust standards, ensuring safety, reliability, and efficiency, and providing Malaysian companies with the credibility to compete globally. For the first time, leaders from ASEAN, China, Japan, Korea, and the USA are joining us, not just with theories, but with practical solutions on refrigerants, safety, and sustainability.”