By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 27: Business Events Sarawak Legacy Initiative (BESLegacy Initiative) won the ‘Best Sustainability Initiative in Destination’ category at the prestigious Meetings & Conventions (M&C) Asia Stella Awards 2024 as the most innovative sustainability programme in Asia.
Business Event Sarawak (BESarawak) said that the BESLegacy Initiative, developed in 2020 by BESarawak, is the first and only framework in Malaysia where business event planners can strategise their convention and exhibition legacies and design event programmes that lead to sustainability outcomes such as community development, environmental responsibility, and economic growth.
According to the Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Sarawak Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, the State has been focusing on sustainable business event practices through the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
He said economic prosperity, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability are the three aspirations that Sarawak wishes to achieve and winning this award reflects the government’s commitment to Sarawak’s development.
“We are thrilled to see our efforts widely appreciated by the global industry and will continue to leverage our strengths to position Sarawak as a leading destination for responsible and impactful business events,” he added.
On the same note, BESarawak chief executive officer Amelia Roziman said that the award motivates them to continue securing business events that align with both government priorities and the interests of local communities.
She also said that they will ensure that each event contributes to long-term, sustainable progress.
Meanwhile, in a related development, BESarawak signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak to conduct an economic and legacy impact study to assess the actual sustainability outcomes and economic, social, and environmental aspects of selected business events hosted in Sarawak.
The study will lead to the launch of the legacy impact measurement ‘dashboard’ (data visualisation of business events’ economic and legacy contributions) in the first quarter of 2025. — DayakDaily
