Kuching to host 12 Asia Pacific cities for knowledge exchange, creative economy sustainability forum from Sept 12-16

Sarawak Legislative Assembly Complex (file photo)

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Aug 23: Kuching will host 12 cities from the Asia Pacific in a knowledge exchange visit and forum on creative economy sustainability from Sept 12-16.

According to a press statement today, the event is sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (Motac) to spearhead the Creative Cities agenda across Malaysia in support of Kuching’s membership since the application stage.

Head of UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) Kuching, Dato Wee Hong Seng, said that the event will enable local domestic creative industries to directly experience the value of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network right here in their own hometown for the first time.

“We are thankful to Motac for making this possible. This platform is a model of collaboration.

“On our side, we are partnering with the Nyamai Gastronomy Festival, to be held at Sarawak Cultural Village this year, and also with the Borneo Tuak Festival, along with other chefs and restaurants in the city,” he said.

Meanwhile UCCN Strategic Director and UNESCO Focal Point Karen Shepherd said the main event will be a one-day forum, with free entry for Kuching’s creative industry players to be held at the Sarawak Cultural Village.

“In addition, our Creative City representatives will take part in curated dinners, culinary demonstrations, roundtable discussions, study visits with our creative sector and a little taste of our gastronomic tours,” she said.

The participants are drawn from five ASEAN countries, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines, with more gastronomy exchanges from Australia and China. Each will be sharing their city’s approach to ensuring the sustainability of their creative economies during the forum.

Confirmed to participate are Baguio City of Craft and Folk Art, Bandung City of Design, Ipoh City of Music, Jakarata City of Literature, Phetchaburi City of Gastronomy, Phuket City of Gastronomy, Launceston City of Gastronomy, Macao City of Gastronomy, Singapore City of Design, Sukhotai City of Craft and Folk Art, Suphan Buri City of Music, and Shunde City of Gastronomy.

For updates, follow Kuching Creative City on social media, visit www.kuchingcreativecity.com or email [email protected]. — DayakDaily