Isabela City once again made history as Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman was named one of the Keynote Speakers at the International Conference on Marketing, Entrepreneurship and Economics (ICMEE 2025) — a major highlight of the Kuala Lumpur International Summit on Sustainable Future (KLSF 2025) held from September 2–3 in the Malaysian capital.
Speaking on the theme “Grassroots Entrepreneurship as a Catalyst for ASEAN Economic Growth”, the mayor proudly presented the Isabela Basilan experience as a model for inclusive, community-based entrepreneurship. She shared the international stage with distinguished leaders including Dr. Lilian Koh, Founder and CEO of FinTech Academy.
The invitation was extended through Dr. Cordelia Mason of Universiti Kuala Lumpur, who was also Research Fellow at the Asian Institute of Finance when Mayor Turabin-Hataman studied Islamic Finance under Dr. Zulkifly Baharom in 2015.
KLSF 2025, themed “Advancing SDGs for a Sustainable Future”, is a joint initiative of Mara Corporation, Majlis Amanah Rakyat, KKDW (Ministry of Rural and Regional Development, Malaysia), and Universiti Kuala Lumpur. It brought together scholars, industry leaders, and policymakers to advance collaboration on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
This milestone is not only an honor for Isabela City but also a proud moment for Basilan, Mindanao, and the entire Philippines, as Mayor Turabin-Hataman showcased how local leadership and grassroots innovation can spark global conversations on sustainable and inclusive growth.
Congratulations, Mayor Dadah, for bringing pride to every Isabeleño! Truly, your leadership shows that from our small island city, we can inspire the world.
