KUCHING, August 9: Over 600 orchid growers, researchers and enthusiasts from different parts of the world will converge here in July next year for the 13th Asia Pacific Orchid Conference at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK).
The triennial conference, to be held from July 24-28, is the first to be hosted by Malaysia. Sarawak won the bidding during the 11th Asia Pacific Orchid Conference in Okinawa, Japan, in 2013.
Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) Datuk Bandar Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai said the conference, themed ‘cultural exchange through orchid’, aimed to promote awareness and development of the hybridisation, cultivation and conservation of orchids and to support research in these fields.
“We believe this event will promote Sarawak to the rest of the world and boost ecotourism. This is also to introduce Kuching and the state as a prestigious conference destination, as well as to create international collaboration in orchid’s R&D, conservation, commercialisation and orchid horticulture in the Asia Pacific region.
“This is also to encourage new discovery of Borneon orchids from Sarawak and to highlight its orchid scenario, which is home to 300 orchid species from 148 genera with large biodiversity potential,” he told a press conference at DBKU City Library here today.
Asia Pacific Orchid Conference Trust president Dennis Kao and famed local orchid expert Au Yong Kien Chung of Orchidwoods Company were also present. Orchidwoods will be managing the orchid show during the conference.
Apart from the conference, there will be an orchid landscape display and competition, where 13 countries are expected to participate, including Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam, Myanmar, the Philippines, China and Korea
Other scheduled activities include an orchid flower arrangement and maintenance workshop, horticulture and agriculture bazaar, orchid fashion competition, musical show and orchid run as well as arts and crafts.
Abdul Wahap said entrance to the shows and side events are free. In addition, a public gallery would be set up for visitors eager to know what transpired throughout the five-day conference. But non-paying participants would not be able to interact with the speakers and panels during their sessions.
There will be plenty of exhibition and sales booths at the BCCK during the event; there will be a food bazaar, too.
Registration for early birds rate is available till Jan 31, 2019. Standard registration rate as well as associate registration (five pax and above) are available till June 30. Cancellation can be made not later than May 31.
For further information and registration, do visit the conference website at www.apoc13.com or email the conference secretariat at apoc2019@dbku.gov.my. — DayakDaily
