By Jaythaleela K
MIRI, March 16: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the International Journal of Business Events and Legacies as an entity was inked today between Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) and Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak).
Also signed was a MoU between Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sarawak and the Sarawak Research Society as strategic partners to expand the journal’s reach and visibility across multiple professional networks.
The MoU ceremony which was held at Curtin University Malaysia Sarawak campus here was witnessed by Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
“It is a significant piece of work to preserve our knowledge in permanent records of research,” said Abdul Karim.
He described the journal as a tool for industry students, practitioners, researchers and policymakers to understand the relationship between hosting business events and correlating activities such as management, economics and entrepreneurship among many other disciplines.
“There are only nine journals (related to the business events industry) and these focus on individual aspects of business events but none that dive into all aspects, including corporate meetings and corporate incentives. From this careful research, we are proud to announce that this will be the first journal in South East Asia to focus on business events, and the first in the world to merge business events and legacy topics under one title,” Abdul Karim told the audience.
He added, pioneering this topic will make Sarawak competitive and known globally, especially as the journal is backed by well respected global associations and organisations such as Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), The Iceberg and Gaining Edge.
“On top of international support, we have local and national association support from the Association of Sarawak Inbound Agencies (Asia), Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (Maceos), Malaysian Association of Travel and Tour Agencies (Matta), Sarawak Tourism Federation (STF), Business Events Council Malaysia (BECM) and Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau ( MyCEB),” he added.
Currently, there are 44 members from 15 countries who will share their resources in the making of the journal.
“These members are from all corners of the world (including) Malaysia, Singapore, UK, Italy, France, Spain, Australia, China, USA, Oman, Libya, Serbia, Iran, Greece, Switzerland. We expect to increase the number of international collaborators in the future,” Abdul Karim disclosed.
“We are proving to the world again that Sarawak is a strong and capable destination driven by the knowledge economy. We have the power to advocate for legacy impact at greater levels, with real knowledge behind them.”
He asserted the future of business events is legacy-driven that is technologically connected and more sustainable towards the environment.
“In Sarawak, we have already included the industry as a vital sub-sector to the economic and social development of the State, one that thoroughly supports the Sarawak government’s goal to transform our destination into a progressive, high-income State by 2030 in line with the Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy,” said Abdul Karim.
Also present were Deputy Minister of Tourism Sarawak Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew, permanent secretary to the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Hii Chang Kee, BESarawak CEO Amelia Roziman, Curtin Malaysia Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Simon Leunig, UiTM Sarawak Rector Professor Dato Dr Jamil Hamali and Sarawak Research Society chairman Dr Hiram Ting. — DayakDaily
