Media Release
BCCK Partners with Orchidwoods to Launch the Inaugural Borneo International Garden Expo Sarawak (BIGEX) 2023
21 February 2023
The Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), together with Orchidwood will be hosting the inaugural Borneo International Garden Expo Sarawak (BIGEXS) here at BCCK from 17 – 19 March 2023.
The BIGEXS was launched by Yang Berhormat Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts and also Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak, along with Yang Berhormat Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew, Deputy Minister of Tourism Sarawak, Yang Berbahagia Datu Sherrina Hussaini, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Datuk Amar Wilson Baya Dandot, Executive Director of BCCK, Yang Berbahagia Dato Steve Ng, Director of BCCK, Mr Eric Van Piggelen, Chief Executive Officer of BCCK, Mr Au Yong Kien Chung & Mr Au Yong Kien Yan, Directors of Orchidwoods Company, and members of the media at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching yesterday.
BIGEXS 2023 aims to feature Borneo’s unique nature, and horticulture as a passion project for like-minded individuals from within the region with the purpose of promoting Sarawak as one of the horticulture hubs in this region. It will feature a unique garden display, marketplace, international food market, fashion shows, pop up boutiques for art & crafts, talks and seminars by renowned botanists, cooking demonstrations of our edible plants, and fringe events by Society Atelier Sarawak and many more under one roof. It is an excellent opportunity for local visitors and tourists to explore creative landscaping ideas, and gain knowledge from experts in this industry.
Speaking at the launch, MTCP Minister, YB Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim said the legacy of the pandemic has driven phenomenal interest in gardening and greening at home.
“The timely establishment of BIGEXS 2023 will provide tremendous opportunities to our domestic garden lovers, but also provide a unique platform for those in the industry to feature their products and services, and to gain further insight and knowledge in this untapped market. The expo will also drive both domestic and regional tourism to Kuching, Sarawak. This is also in tandem with the strategy toward value-addition to generate tourism economy as outlined in the Post-Covid19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030) plan.” said the Minister.
Dr Peter Boyce, a renowned Botanist & Taxonomist is one of the key speakers for BIGEX. Based in Sarawak for almost 20 years, having previously employed by the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew in the UK for 15 years as a research botanist specializing in Southeast Asian plants.
Among the notable international celebrity exhibitors line up include:
- Mr Sappasiri Chaovanich, Thailand – Owner of Live with Plant, or better known as Khun Home has a strong social media follower globally. He is a renown plants collector and seller by the elite groups in Thailand and the region.
- Mr Adisak Hongslip, Thailand Mr Adisak Hongslip of Thailand is the world’s best Vanda and Asco hybridiser who has crossed bred more than 2000 vandaceous orchids and is a well-respected breeder in the industry.
- Dongfang Tengful Horticuture Biotech. Ltd, China – Ornamental plant producing company located on the Hainan Island, Hainan Province in China specializing in tropical Orchid Production.
- Neo Cheng Soon Farm, Singapore – Famous breeder for Spatulata Dendrobium Orchid in the region.
“This Expo will showcase different varieties of the unique Borneo native flora, while allowing international experts to share and exchange knowledge and also the conservation of our natural resources and the environment. We are looking forward to inspiring and delighting our local community and tourists who visit BIGEXS. We hope that from this Expo, they will pick up many interesting ideas and adapt them to suit their lifestyle.” said Mr Chung, Director of Orchidwoods Company.
“On behalf of BCCK and the Orchidwood’s team, we would like to extend a big heartfelt thank you to our honourable minister, YB Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah together with Yang Berbahagia Datu Sherrina Hussaini and the Ministry of Tourism Creative Industry and Performing Arts, for their continuous support and contribution to ensure a successful BIGEX.” Said Tan Sri Datuk Amar Wilson Baya Dandot, Executive Director of BCCK.
For more information about the expo, please visit BIGEXS 2023 website at www.bigexs.com.my or follow BIGEXS’s Facebook and Instagram page for latest update.