ONE FOR THE ALBUM: Mike Cannon (left) with Asia Pacific Rim Confederation of Counsellors (APRICPC) president Professor Catherine Sun from Hong Kong (second left) and other delegates at the opening of APRCC 2013.
KUCHING: The development of Sarawak is at a stage where the transfer of market intelligence, professional knowledge, technology and best practices are crucial to prosper further.
Stating this in a press statement released yesterday, Sarawak Convention Bureau (SCB) managing director Mike Cannon emphasised that conferences could assist in the development of the state as it represented a superb learning opportunity in various fields of expertise.
“Conferences such as the 3rd Asia Pacific Rim International Counselling and Psychotherapy Conference (APRCC 2013) brings to Sarawak greater research opportunities, greater education, foreign exchange, and, in many cases Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects, for example rebated registration fees for student delegates.
“It is a wonderful opportunity for an international organisation to help Malaysia and its neighbouring counterparts such as Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines to develop themselves in your field of expertise.”
As highlighted in SCB’s pitch to win this event for Malaysia, Cannon said the drive for Sarawak to host such a conference came from its desire to learn and share as well as exchange best practices to benefit all who attended the conference, plus the people of Sarawak, as a result.
“But by choosing Kuching in Sarawak as your venue, you have – by default and by design – provided the society of Sarawak with key elements to assist in its development for the future.”
Besides academic and clinical reasons, Cannon believed many more conferences would continue to make contributions to the state in various aspects.
Meanwhile, hundreds of mental health professionals gathered here for the four-day APRCC 2013 which ended on Sunday.
Participants comprising counsellors, psychotherapists and psychologists from countries like New Zealand, Australia, United States, Taiwan and Hong Kong attended the conference at Riverside Majestic Hotel.
Themed, ‘Sekarang! Relational, Environmental and Educational Factors Now’, APRCC 2013 was organised by the Malaysian Association of Psychotherapy (MAP) and supported by SCB.
Cannon also encouraged the visitors to conferences to go beyond their event and tour or return to Sarawak so as to experience the wonderful hospitality and treasures this mighty state of Asia offers.
“Think of Sarawak as a venue for one of your future meetings, or corporate events should I be talking to anyone from the private sector.”
Cannon said Sarawak is a land rich in natural and man-made values which is an attractive draw card for delegates and travellers.
“It is a treasure trove of national parks, mountains, rivers, virgin rainforests, wildlife and unique architecture – all situated close to urban city centres.
“We have managed to preserve an abundance of our historical infrastructure and charm in the face of rapid development in areas such as; international banking, aviation, higher education, specialist medical centres, hospitality services, and industrial complexes,” he added.
Cannon also hoped visitors would experience the wonderful food Sarawak had to offer.
“But what Sarawak is really about is the wonderful warm, welcoming and creativity of its people.
“Sarawak’s core values of culture, nature and adventure are set within multiracial communities, steeped in colonial history resulting in great harmony.”