By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 24: Miri, Sibu and Bintulu have the potential to emerge as business event cities in their own right, but each should develop a distinct niche based on its existing economic and institutional strengths, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
In a speech read by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian at the Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) 20th anniversary celebration and the official launch of the Sarawak Business Events Analytics and Collaboration Network (Sarawak BEACON) last night (Sept 23), Abang Johari said Sarawak should not attempt to make all its cities compete in the same way.
Instead, he said, each city should identify what it could be known for, develop the necessary capabilities around those strengths and attract events suited to its profile.
“Miri has strengths in energy and tourism, as well as a strategic position in northern Sarawak, while Sibu is an important centre for central Sarawak with strengths in education, community and industry. Bintulu sits at the heart of some of Sarawak’s most important energy and industrial activities.
“We should not try to make every city the same. Instead, we should identify what each city can be known for, build the right capability around those strengths, and connect the right events with the right destination,” he said.
According to Abang Johari, a more decentralised business events industry would allow the benefits of the sector to reach beyond Kuching, strengthening local businesses, developing talent and creating new opportunities across Sarawak.
The Premier said the approach was also consistent with Sarawak’s broader development agenda, as the State seeks to build capabilities in areas including energy transition, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, the digital economy, healthcare and human capital.
He said business events could serve as a platform for Sarawak to bring international expertise, talent, technology, investment and ideas directly into the State.
“When the right international communities come here, we create opportunities for our own people to connect with them. We can exchange knowledge, identify solutions, build partnerships, attract investment and develop our own talent,” he said.
Abang Johari said Sarawak’s business events strategy should therefore move beyond attracting visitors and focus increasingly on securing events that complement the industries and capabilities the State was seeking to develop.
He cited Kuching’s hosting of the International Water Association World Water Congress and Exhibition in 2028 as an example.
“The event is expected to bring about 10,000 delegates to Sarawak and would make the State the first destination in ASEAN to host the global gathering,” he said.
He added that the congress would not only bring international participants to Sarawak but also build local expertise through the experience of bidding for, preparing for and hosting a major international event.
The development of the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching 2 (BCCK2), more hotels and venues, improved connectivity through AirBorneo and the development of the hydrogen-powered Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) system would further strengthen Sarawak’s capacity to compete for international business events, he said.
“These are not isolated developments. Together, they are creating the environment Sarawak needs to compete for greater opportunities,” he said.
Abang Johari said the challenge now was to convert that capacity into opportunities for the wider State.
“Our strength lies in how well we work together by connecting business events with Sarawak’s priorities, turning opportunities into action, and creating impact that extends beyond the event itself,” he said.
He added that the next phase of Sarawak’s business events industry would require better decisions based not only on experience but also on data, intelligence, collaboration and evidence.
Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Deputy Minister of Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan, Deputy Sarawak Secretary (Operation) Datu Hii Chang Kii and BESarawak chief executive officer Jason Tan were among the distinguished guests present. — DayakDaily
