By Ling Hui
KUCHING, May 14: Sarawak, through Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak), hosted 107 business events in 2023, generating RM372 million (RM371,978,368.94) in Total Economic Impact.
Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said direct delegate expenditure amounted to RM202.1 million, earning RM22.3 million in taxes.
Among major events hosted in 2023, were the 27th World Congress on Innovation and Technology 2023, with 2,000 delegates and 178 exhibitors and the Congress of the International Primatological Society 2023, with 1,200 delegates.
“From 2024 until 2028, BESarawak secured 95 business events, worth RM346.5 million (RM346,519,492.78) in Total Economic Impact.
“Approximately RM188.3 million (RM 188,325,811.30) will be generated from direct delegate expenditure and earning RM20.8 million (RM20,791,169.16) in taxes,” Abdul Karim said when presenting his ministerial winding-up speech in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) here today.
Amongst the major international bids are the Asia Pacific Green Hydrogen and Exhibition 2024, with an estimated 5,000 delegates, exhibitors and visitors; and the International Water Association World Water Congress and Exhibition 2028, with an estimated 10,000 delegates, exhibitors and visitors.
This year, Abdul Karim said Sarawak’s business events industry will work towards reinforcing the region’s position as the Legacy Capital of Business Events in Malaysia and Borneo.
From May 13 to 16, representatives from Sarawak’s business events industry will be at Incentive Travel, Meetings and Events (IMEX) Frankfurt in Germany under the leadership of Deputy Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan.
“This will mark Sarawak’s second year of exhibiting with its pavilion at IMEX Frankfurt, and one of the key highlights is the launching of Volume 2 Issue 2 of the International Journal of Business Events and Legacies,” Abdul Karim disclosed. — DayakDaily
