KUCHING: 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 stages.
In a significant step forward, MACEOS arranged an official visit led by 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 in 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,” said MACEOS in a press statement today.
“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 Dr M Gandhi. To achieve this, the association has rolled out a multi-faceted approach focusing on key areas such as forging strategic alliances for growth and supporting local capacity building.
Leading these efforts is Premala Danapakiam, MACEOS Sarawak Chapter Chair and Director of Sales & Marketing at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching, who is driving an extensive outreach programme in Sibu and Miri to expand opportunities and strengthen partnerships.
“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,” said Dr M Gandhi.
The association’s commitment to Sarawak is further underscored by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sarawak Business Events Association (SBE) at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching today.
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, this move is set to define new benchmarks for the 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.
