By Dayangku Hidayatul
KUCHING, May 14: About 1,200 global experts are expected to gather in Kuching for the inaugural Social Impact Assessment Conference and Exhibition 2026 (SIAC2026), scheduled from Nov 23 to 25, in a move aimed at advancing sustainable and inclusive social development in Sarawak.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the event is jointly supported by the Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development Sarawak (MUDeNR), and is being held in conjunction with LCDA’s 45th anniversary.
“SIAC2026 is the first large-scale, multi-day international conference and exhibition in Malaysia and the ASEAN region dedicated specifically to Social Impact Assessment (SIA),” he said during a press conference at the media room of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly Complex here today.
He said the conference, themed “From Policy to Practice: Advancing Inclusive and Sustainable Development Through Social Impact Assessment”, will bridge policy dialogue, technical expertise, and on-the-ground implementation.
Awang Tengah added that SIAC2026 will highlight the role of SIA in strengthening community participation, stakeholder collaboration, and social impact management, while also enhancing regional cooperation, professional capacity, and responsible investment—particularly among emerging economies.
He noted that the event is aligned with Sarawak’s Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030), especially its pillars of economic prosperity, social inclusivity, and environmental sustainability.
“The conference will strengthen Sarawak’s position as a regional hub for ESG and inclusive development practices, marking the State as the first in Malaysia and the ASEAN region to host an international SIA conference of this scale,” he emphasised.
The programme will feature leading international and regional experts in SIA and sustainable development, including Professor Frank Vanclay from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands and Carlos T. Perez-Brito from the World Bank in Singapore.
Experts and practitioners from Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines will also participate as speakers, moderators, panellists, and delegates.
Key highlights include plenary sessions with keynote addresses, technical presentations, panel discussions, workshops, ESG-focused forums, exhibitions, university student poster competitions, networking sessions, and site visits.
A gala dinner and the SIA Recognition Awards will also be held to honour outstanding contributions in advancing SIA practices and inclusive development initiatives.
Awang Tengah said the conference will be officiated by Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg on Nov 24.
He also called on strategic partners, sponsors, exhibitors, academic institutions, and stakeholders to take part in and support the programme, while expressing appreciation to the Malaysian Social Impact Assessment Association (MSIA), PLANMalaysia, and Business Events Sarawak for their collaboration in making the conference possible. — DayakDaily
