Media Release
MACEOS INTENSIFIES FOCUS ON ELEVATING THE SARAWAK BUSINESS EVENTS INDUSTRY
02 December 2024
The Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS) is strengthening its efforts to empower Sarawak’s Business Events (BE) ecosystem, positioning the state as a key player on both the national and international stage.
In a significant step forward, MACEOS arranged an official visit led by the President, Datuk Dr. M Gandhi to Sarawak, spearheading a series of strategic engagements, including networking sessions with industry stakeholders and introducing forward-thinking initiatives designed to drive impactful growth of Sarawak’s BE ecosystem. The move highlights collaborative efforts to develop and strengthen Malaysia’s business events industry, ensuring Sarawak’s competitiveness and professionalism meet global standards and expectations.
“MACEOS is dedicated to expanding Sarawak’s reach beyond local markets, targeting East Asian and global audiences in close collaboration with BESarawak and local stakeholders.” said MACEOS President, Datuk Dr. M Gandhi. To achieve this, the association has rolled out a multi-faceted approach focusing on the following key areas:
- Forge strategic alliances for growth: Foster cooperation and collaborative networking with local stakeholders to create synergies that leverage Sarawak’s unique strengths, such as its regulatory environment and cultural diversity.
- Support local capacity building: Work closely with academia, government agencies, and present industry practitioners to beef up Sarawak’s talent pool through training, mentorship programmes, specialised workshops, and professional certification.
Leading these efforts is Premala Danapakiam, MACEOS Sarawak Chapter Chair and Director of Sales & Marketing of Borneo Convention Centre Kuching, who is propelling an extensive outreach program in Sibu and Miri to expand opportunities and strengthen partnerships.
Underscoring the association’s commitment to Sarawak is signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sarawak Business Events Association (SBE) at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching today.
As the Secretary of the Sarawak Business Events Association (SBE), I am proud to formalise our collaboration with MACEOS through this MoU signing,” said Awang Saifeluddin, Secretary, Sarawak Business Events Association (SBE). “This partnership underscores our shared commitment to fostering growth in the business events industry while ensuring the interests of our local industry players are safeguarded. Together, we aim to elevate our standards and equip our members with the skills necessary to deliver world-class services, positioning Sarawak as a premier destination for international business events. This collaboration marks a significant step toward strengthening our industry’s capabilities and global competitiveness.
Datuk Dr. M Gandhi remarked: "MACEOS is committed to fostering a unified business events ecosystem in Malaysia. Sarawak has immense potential, and through our Sarawak Chapter, we aim to amplify its presence on the national stage. We encourage more Sarawak-based companies to engage actively in MACEOS discussions and events beyond the state."
The focus is on advocacy and capacity-building. With MACEOS Vice President for Education, Mona Abdul Manap who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Place Borneo Sdn Bhd, making a push for more industry exposure for students and young industry professionals, alongside tailored training programmes that fit the local business context, the move is set to define new benchmarks for the industry.
MACEOS’s efforts in Sarawak also align with its national agenda of sustainability and innovation. Through partnerships with academia and industry stakeholders, the association aims to drive forward-thinking initiatives that ensure Malaysia remains at the forefront of the global BE industry. In line with the upcoming Business Events standards set to be launched in 2025 by the Department of Standards Malaysia, MACEOS is dedicated to encouraging industry players in Sarawak to adopt these standards, elevating the professionalism and quality of business events in the region.
Further emphasising MACEOS's collaborative ethos, the association works closely with academia, forming a focus group to develop Green Event Guidelines for business events. Scheduled to be launched in May 2025, this framework reflects MACEOS’s commitment to sustainability and innovation in driving industry progress.
ABOUT MACEOS - THE VOICE OF MALAYSIA'S BUSINESS EVENTS INDUSTRY
MALAYSIAN ASSOCIATION OF CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION ORGANISERS AND SUPPLIERS
PERSATUAN PENGANJUR DAN PEMBEKAL PERSIDANGAN DAN PAMERAN MALAYSIA
马来西亚会议与展览主办与供应商协会
In 1990, when business tourism in Malaysia was still in its infancy, the Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS) was founded with the objective of developing and raising the standards of the Business Events (BE) industry nationwide.
The Association is the mandated representative of its members from various business establishments, including professional exhibition and conference organisers, venue operators, destination management and event management companies, and other affiliated members, including stand contractors, Audio-Visual and event technology suppliers, hotel with meeting facilities, specialised freight forwarders, travel and tours and more.