ICCA Client-Supplier Workshop Group Photo – 5th to 6th July 2012
KUCHING, 5 July 2012: Sarawak is looking to increase the number of business events to the State as well as aiming for high-yield events that will help to generate income and boost the local economy.
At the Opening Ceremony of the ICCA Asia Pacific Chapter Client/ Supplier Business Workshop and Asia Pacific Educational Seminar, held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), Minister of Tourism Sarawak, YB Datuk Amar Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg commented, “The State is working hard towards achieving our vision of economic prosperity through sustainable development and the State’s economic planning objectives.”
He added, “We would like to encourage local suppliers to use this opportunity to showcase Sarawak, and to share existing knowledge with your peers for the development of Sarawak’s Business Events industry. Events like these will definitely help us to learn from one another. We have improved as a business events destination over the years, but we want to be better.”
Mr Martin Winter, Chairman of ICCA Asia Pacific Chapter & CEO of Gold Coast Tourism, Australia commented, “Sarawak, and Malaysia as a whole has much to offer in terms of world class meeting facilities and a rich, diverse culture, and I hope that over the next few days, we will be able to develop innovative ideas and push the boundaries of conventional business events.”
Delegates of the ICCA Asia Pacific Chapter Client/ Supplier Business Workshop and Asia Pacific Educational Seminar will experience four days of business meetings and discussions coupled with themed dinners and highlights of Kuching, such as the Semenggoh Orang Utan Sanctuary and river kayaking in the rainforest.
Mr Mike Cannon, Managing Director of Sarawak Convention Bureau (SCB) commented, “The local industry has been very encouraging and supportive, and we look forward to more high-yield business events for 2013 and in years to come. The Bureau is dynamic in its focus on research to target potential business events to Sarawak, and we remain keen to develop this. In the meantime, we need partners across all levels of business and government to be focused on the business opportunities that evolve out of Business Events, opportunities that lead to growth for suppliers and the State of Sarawak, hence our full support of this workshop.”
Adding on, Mr Paul D’Arcy, CEO of Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) commented, “This event gives us an opportunity to showcase BCCK’s expertise in running this workshop and bringing them the Borneo experience. We are also able to make a contribution to the economy of Sarawak as the delegates provide additional business to the tourism players here. “
“Hosting the ICCA Asia Pacific Chapter Client/Supplier Business Workshop will help us to attract not only more international business events but also to assure our local clients of the quality of our services. While there are many local and international business prospects available to us at the moment, we are certainly in a position to take up more business events at BCCK,” he added.
In conjunction with the ICCA Asia Pacific Client/ Supplier Business Workshop, the Asia Pacific Educational Seminar will take place on the 6th July 2012 at BCCK where decision-makers of international associations converge with select ICCA members for a strictly Business-2-Business session. The seminar will be moderated by Mr Gary Grimmer, CEO of GainingEdge from Melbourne, Australia, who is an active ICCA member. With over 25 years of experience in the meetings industry, he has conducted numerous seminars including the annual ICCA Association Experts Seminar, held in conjunction with IMEX at Frankfurt, and is undoubtedly one of the best moderators in the Asia Pacific region.
The event, hosted by Sarawak Convention Bureau (SCB) and ICCA, with supporting partners Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) and AOS Convention & Events (AOSCE) will showcase key speakers from various international associations around the world and key ICCA members sharing best practices, current trends and exchanging ideas in line with the theme, “Carving a Niche in the Meetings Industry”.
For more information on the Business Workshop and Asia Pacific Educational Seminar, please contact [email protected] with c.c. to [email protected] or call +603 42529100 or +6082 242516.
