KUCHING- Sarawak cemented its status as a pioneering force in legacy-driven business events with a prominent showing at the 64th International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Congress in Porto, Portugal.
The Malaysian state’s largest-ever delegation to the global forum underscored its comprehensive strategy to position business events as a catalyst for sustainable progress.
A landmark moment occurred during a ministerial dialogue session, where The Honourable Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah became the first minister from Asia to address an ICCA gathering on government collaboration.
He detailed Sarawak’s whole-of-government methodology, which integrates business events into the core of its economic planning.
“Long-term thinking is essential to strengthen confidence and align industry needs with national priorities,” stated Dato Sri Abdul Karim during the session.
He announced a significant upcoming initiative, revealing, “We will be signing MoUs with 12 Sarawak ministries in December to reflect the government’s commitment… This will be the biggest government-industry partnership in Malaysia’s business events industry”.
The state’s flawless record in winning business event bids since 2021 was a topic of discussion. Datu Hii Chang Kee, a key figure in the delegation, attributed this success to robust governmental backing.
He explained that every bid is supported by a unified effort across ministries and agencies, all aligned with a vision to create long-term community benefits that extend far beyond the events themselves .
In a moment of recognition, Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) was presented with an ICCA Award of Appreciation for its role in fortifying the Asia-Pacific industry. Amelia Roziman, Chief Executive Officer of BESarawak, accepted the honour.
“We are truly honoured to be recognised as a regional leader in transformative business events,” said Roziman. “These platforms have transformed Sarawak from a passive participant in the global market to an active innovator of the future. We are turning local assets of knowledge, culture, and industries into global advantages”.
This international acclaim follows recent individual honours for BESarawak’s leadership. In October, Amelia Roziman was awarded The Iceberg Excellence Award, where she was recognised as the first Asian recipient for her work in legacy-driven event strategies and sustainability.
The global stage at ICCA allowed Sarawak to showcase its strategic shift, initiated in 2019, from a tourism-centric events model to a purpose-driven approach. This transformation is championed through initiatives like the Tribe Legacy Sarawak campaign, which carries the tagline “Driving Impact Together”.
Underpinning this campaign are innovative tools such as AI.LEGACY, an intelligent system developed to measure the long-term social, economic, and environmental impact of business events, ensuring they contribute meaningfully to Sarawak’s development goals.
The delegation in Porto was a testament to Sarawak’s collaborative spirit, comprising representatives from multiple government bodies and local business events committees from key cities such as Kuching, Miri, and Sibu.
