KUCHING: The Board of Directors of Sarawak Convention Bureau (SCB) recently met to discuss the excellent progress of Sarawak’s Business Events Industry.
The Sarawak Convention Bureau team.
The report by Dato Sri Dr Muhammad Leo Michael Toyad Abdullah, chairman of SCB, highlighted the Bureau’s core objectives to win more bids for Sarawak by placing greater emphasis on marketing and business partnerships including the use of sponsorship; to enhance education of business and government communities and business event suppliers of Sarawak so as to retain brand value and encourage referred and repeat businesses; and to continue to brand Sarawak as a unique destination for Business Events.
“The business events industry in Sarawak just keeps getting better and better. Recently, we made the Top 30 with the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Asia Pacific & Middle East Country and City ranking for international wins in 2013.
“This recognition is a huge compliment to the Business Events sector of Sarawak,” he said in a press statement issued yesterday.
Since appearing in the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Asia Pacific & Middle East Country and City ranking in 2010, Kuching has continued to improve its ranking from 38th (2012) to its current spot at 28th; and a worldwide ranking of 136th out of 371 cities – alongside Birmingham, Johannesburg, Las Vegas and Orlando among others.
He added: “Having come out of a tough period in 2012, we were thrilled to place among ICCA’s Top 30 meeting cities in Asia Pacific and Middle East. This would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our industry partners and clients.”
“Sarawak industry players can also look forward to industry education opportunities and programmes for the remainder of 2014, and in 2015 we will begin an aggressive campaign to capture the international business influences in Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Southeast Asia and Australasia markets.”
SCB board members, Datu Ik Pahon Joyik (Ministry of Tourism), Datu Ismawi (State Planning Unit), Dato Robert Geneid (Borsarmulu Resort Sdn Bhd), Audry Wan Ulok (Sarawak Tourism Federation), Jason Tai (Pansar Group), Datuk Abang Karim (Sarawak Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Akit Sebli (Tuah Infiniti) and Mike Cannon (SCB), in concurring with this statement also commended the hardworking team at the Bureau and thanked industry players for their support in developing Sarawak’s Business Events industry.
Key wins for 2013 that contributed towards Kuching’s successful ranking in ICCA include ‘The International Hakka Conference’ and ‘55th Anniversary Celebration (October 2013 with 1320 delegates)’, ‘The International Energy Week (September 2014 with 1200 delegates)’, and the ‘International Clinical Conference for Assistant Medical Officers & Paramedics (April 2015 with an estimated 700 delegates)’.
Mike Cannon, SCB managing director, commented that “There has been exciting development for 2014 with the appointment of an Australian based representative, which should result in greater opportunities for further wins and successful familiarisation projects.”
“The remainder of 2014 will see the Bureau’s participation in the International Meetings Exchanges (IMEX) America in October 2014 with a familiarisation trip for US based buyers to Sarawak after the show,” he added.