Transforming Sarawak via business events revolution

By Dr. Jee Teck Weng

The business events sector in Sarawak has undergone intensive transformation and translational expansion aligning well with the Post-COVID Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, with the focus on long-lasting legacies, sustainable economic growth, knowledge sharing, innovation, and community development.

This change can be seen in the state’s continuous dedication to legacy and sustainability, its strategic national and international partnerships, and its focus on creating impactful experiences.

It extends beyond the business events organizers’ narrative and involves more than just physical locations, having an impact on participants and the surrounding communities long after the activities have ended. Business events organizers in Sarawak have strong industry and governmental backing today, as well as creative concepts and an unrelenting commitment to legacies, whilst aligning towards PCDS 2030 strategies and thrusts.

One outstanding example of this transformation is Sarawak’s approach to business events, epitomised by the pivotal role played by Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) which is dedicated to promoting, supporting, and gearing the M.I.C.E. (meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions) industry into the right connections.

Poised with strategic national and international partnerships and an unwavering commitment to legacy and sustainability, Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) has successfully elevated Sarawak State into this region’s premier business events destination.

Sarawak has developed into a vibrant venue for hosting international conferences, music festivals, award ceremonies, exhibits, trade displays, and competitions, as opposed to being restricted to small domestic conferences and meetings in the past.

Sarawak as a Global Hub for Economic Prosperity

Sarawak’s business events focus on sustainability and legacy is reflected in the big potential for economic growth that business events foster within the industry and the wider community.

Besides that, business events are also expected to drive direct investments into local industries, hence stimulating local business growth, and creating job opportunities, contributing to the rise of the new economy in Sarawak, particularly towards the new digital economy.

For instance, major international conferences such as WCIT 2023 and the 6th International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak 2023 have resulted in significant hotel bookings, increased restaurant traffic, and higher retail sales.

Furthermore, organizing such major business events in Sarawak also generates employment opportunities in various sectors (more evidently in the social services and tourism sectors), while enhancing job opportunities and prospects for residents and talents.

Sarawak as a Knowledge Hub

Apart from the potential economic benefits (including job creation), business events also serve as knowledge hubs where industry leaders and experts connect and gather to share the latest insights, findings, and best practices, whilst accelerating progress, fostering innovation, and keeping professionals and the community up-to-date with the latest developments and news, directly from the source themselves.

This dissemination of knowledge extends beyond the events themselves, fuelling sustainable innovations and intellectual capital development in Sarawak.

Today, Sarawak has emerged as an important hub for nurturing the next generation of intellectual capital and combating the threats of brain drain in this region, supported by various developmental initiatives such as manufacturing green hydrogen and agricultural exports.

Notwithstanding the above, Sarawak’s dynamic business events landscape today has also positioned the state and the region as one of the fastest-growing leaders within the industry, driving innovation in various sectors, including education and human capital development, digital transformation, renewable energy, transport, utilities, and many more.

Such innovative transformation by Sarawak business events also aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Sarawak’s 13 Key Priority Areas.

This was done and achieved through various innovative and strategic development policy by the various business events held in Sarawak thus far, coupled with strong and meaningful local and global collaborations.

Sarawak as a Magnet for International Audience

Sarawak State has continuously become a magnet for international companies and organizations seeking to leverage business events held in Sarawak as platforms to launch new products, showcase cutting-edge technologies, and garner invaluable feedback from a diverse, global audience that converges in Sarawak.

These diverse global attendees are not merely attendees and observers; often time they also actively engage in promoting Sarawak as a lucrative destination for international business events while enjoying their experience when they travel to Sarawak.

As a result, these international audiences play a pivotal role in shaping the direction of business events to be held in Sarawak, all while making substantial contributions to their dedication to sustainability and leaving behind a lasting legacy.

Sarawak’s Business Events Inclusive Reciprocal Ecosystem

It is without doubt that sustainable community empowerment and development are essential to create a long-lasting and impactful legacy that transcends beyond monetary gains.

In Sarawak, business event planners and organizers alike are blessed to be continuously supported by Sarawak’s state organizations such as Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak), the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP), and the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB).

These organizations have been providing pivotal support to business event planners and organizers alike in ensuring that the business events held not just benefit the local businesses and communities, but also are sustainable and profitable.

In the last decade, we have witnessed the birth of various highly impactful initiatives (such as skill development programs, cultural exchanges, and community engagement projects) as an integral part of business events held in Sarawak.

Today, such initiatives have become an integral part of business events in Sarawak, positively impacting the local populace while driving the new economy model in Sarawak, further creating job opportunities for the local populace, and boosting tourism into this region.

● Dr Jee Teck Weng is a director of the Business and Social Innovation Centre, as well as a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Business, Design, and Arts at Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak Campus. He can be reached via email at [email protected]

The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.