Solid results: 96 business events generate RM339.7 mln in economic impact, RM20.3 mln in taxes, 26,963 jobs in Sarawak

Abdul Karim is seen holding the ministerial winding-up speech text for his two ministries during the DUN sitting on Nov 28, 2023. Photo credit: Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas)

By Ashley Sim

KUCHING, Nov 28: Sarawak has successfully hosted 96 business events out of the targeted 107 events valued at RM339.7 million in total economic impact, RM184.6 million in delegate expenditure, and RM20.3 million in taxes, creating approximately 26,963 job opportunities.

Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts (MTCP) Sarawak Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah told the august House that the 96 events contributed to a total of 318 impacts working towards achieving the Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030) and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“Some major business events hosted this year were Annual Conference of the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) 2023, with 700 delegates (8–11 May 2023); 24th Asia-Australasia Conference of Radiological Technologists (AACRT) 2023, with 1,000 delegates (11–13 August 2023); Congress of the International Primatological Society 2023, with 1,200 delegates (19–25 August 2023); 27th World Congress on Innovation and Technology 2023 (WCIT 2023), with 3,000 delegates, exhibitors, and visitors (4–6 October 2023); and 12th Congress of the Asian Pacific Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis 2023, with 1,000 delegates (18–21 October 2023),” he said when presenting his ministerial winding-up speech during the Second Meeting for the Second Term of the 19th Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) at the DUN complex here today.

He disclosed Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) has also currently secured 90 out of 100 events, with a total economic impact of RM336.8 million; RM183.1 million in delegate expenditure; and RM20.2 million in taxes, creating 26,732 job opportunities in Sarawak.

“All 90 secured events have the potential to develop a total of 411 impacts, with the impacts working towards achieving the PCDS 2030 and the United Nations SDGs.

“Some significant events secured were Asia Carbon Conference 2023 (ACC 2023), with an estimated 400 delegates (14–16 March 2023); Asia Pacific Green Hydrogen and Exhibition 2024, with an estimated 5,000 delegates, exhibitors, and visitors (11–13 June 2024); and International Water Association World Water Congress and Exhibition 2028 (IWA 2028), with an estimated 10,000 delegates, exhibitors, and visitors (September 2028).”

Abdul Karim, who is also Asajaya assemblyman, noted that this year is shaping up to be another a successful year for bidding with Sarawak achieving 100 per cent win rate.

“Major bids won include International Midwives Conference 2023 (5–6 May 2023), with an estimated 750 delegates; National Autism Convention 2023, with an estimated 700 delegates (6–7 May 2023); 15th International Conference on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology 2023, with an estimated 600 delegates (7–9 August 2023); Asia Pacific Conference on Zoonotic and Neglected Tropical Diseases 2023, with an estimated 600 delegates (27–29
September 2023); 20th Asian Society of Paediatric Anaesthesiologists Conference 2024, with an estimated 600 delegates (11–14 July 2024); ICOMOS Triennial General Assembly 2026, with an estimated 2000 delegates (20–24 October 2026),” he added. — DayakDaily