Leading Strategically: Global Perspective UUM and BFA, the first academic forum hosted by UUM and BFA
News and pictures Rozita Ramli
UZBEKISTAN, 7 May 2025: Marking a significant milestone in international academic collaboration, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) and the Banking and Finance Academy (BFA) of the Republic of Uzbekistan jointly hosted their first-ever academic forum, titled “Leading Strategically: Global Perspective UUM and BFA”.
The event stemmed from the partnership formalized between the two institutions in May 2024 during the Uzbekistan-Malaysia Business Forum, witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Held at the prestigious International Hotel Tashkent, the forum attracted nearly 120 industry experts and scholars from across Tashkent. Participants convened to explore emerging trends and strategic leadership within global banking and finance sectors.
The primary objective of the forum was to strengthen academic ties and foster knowledge exchange on contemporary issues in banking, finance, and strategic management from a global perspective. The programme featured keynote speeches, panel discussions, and interactive sessions led by distinguished academics and industry professionals from both institutions.
Prof. Dr Hassan Abu Bakar, Dean of Othman Yeop Abdullah Graduate School of Business (OYAGSB), UUM, expressed optimism about the collaboration.
“This forum marks a significant step towards deepening our international partnerships and advancing academic collaboration that influences global financial strategies. We look forward to more initiatives that benefit our students and the broader academic community,” he said.
Similarly, BFA Rector, Dr Elmurod Hoshimov emphasized the importance of strategic leadership in navigating the ever-revolving financial landscape, particularly in the face of global economic challenges.
The event was also designed to explore how strategic synergy can drive meaningful change, with the goal of establishing a sustainable academic partnership between Malaysia and Uzbekistan.
The success of this inaugural forum underscores the commitment of both UUM and BFA to fostering international cooperation and advancing knowledge in strategic leadership for the global banking and financial industry.
