By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 6: Sarawak has secured hosting rights for the International Water Association (IWA) World Water Congress & Exhibition (WWCE) 2028 in Kuching—making it the first time that the event will be held within the region.
According to the Ministry for Utility and Telecommunication, this was formalised through an official handover ceremony from Glasgow to Kuching during the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland.
“Hosting the event will provide Sarawak with the opportunity to welcome the global water community while strengthening international cooperation and knowledge sharing within the water sector,” it said in a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) report.
The Sarawak delegation to the IWA WWCE 2026 was led by the Deputy Minister for Utility and Telecommunication, Datuk Liwan Lagang, alongside water sector leaders, professionals, policymakers, researchers, and industry players from around the world.
According to Liwan, Sarawak is committed to ensuring the success of the IWA WWCE 2028 in Kuching and delivering a meaningful impact on the global water community.
“We congratulate IWA and Glasgow on the successful hosting of this year’s congress. As the next host, we are committed to ensuring that the IWA WWCE 2028 in Kuching is a successful and impactful event.
“We aim to bring the global water community together in Sarawak to share knowledge, technology, and practical solutions that can help us address current and future water-related challenges,” he said.
He added that hosting the event also offers Sarawak an opportunity to learn from global experiences, strengthen collaborations, and explore new ideas and solutions for the water sector.
“Beyond the congress itself, we want delegates to experience Kuching and Sarawak firsthand, enjoying the natural environment, the cultural diversity that reflects unity in diversity, local cuisine and the warm hospitality of our people. We look forward to welcoming the global water community to Kuching in 2028,” he added.
The IWA WWCE 2028 is expected to serve as a vital platform for the global water community to exchange ideas, experiences, and solutions as well as to strengthen partnerships and explore new opportunities within the sector.
The congress will be held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching 2 (BCCK2), an expansion of the existing Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK).
In addition to attending the congress and the official handover ceremony, the Sarawak delegation participated in several working visits in the United Kingdom, including to the Winchburgh Wastewater Treatment Works and the University of Edinburgh.
These visits aimed to gain insights into best practices regarding plant operations and management, water research and innovation, water security, and climate change, while also exploring opportunities for knowledge sharing and collaboration. — DayakDaily
