KUALA SELANGOR, Aug 26 — Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) has clinched 149 business events so far this year, which are expected to bring 494,015 delegates to the country.
Acting chief executive officer Zain Azrai Rashid said the agency aims to secure 41 more business events by year-end, bringing the total target for 2023 to 190 events.
MyCEB, together with industry partners, clinched 152 events in 2022.
“The 190 business events targeted this year are expected to contribute a national economic impact of about RM2.4 billion.
“The (higher) projection reflects our optimism and we are pleased to be able to elevate further the Malaysian business events industry at the Southeast Asian level,” he told Bernama after completing MyCEB’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme, which involved the planting of 100 mangrove trees at the Kuala Selangor Nature Park, today.
Zain Azrai said from 2010 to 2022, MyCEB implemented a total of 2,857 business event activities comprising conventions, exhibitions, corporate meetings and incentives, as well as international sporting events.
“This collective effort has produced an amazing level of participation involving about 2.39 million delegates, resulting in a significant economic injection of RM17.4 billion into the Malaysian economy.
“The impact goes beyond the economic aspect. At the international level, the events also enticed business travelers from renowned organisations and strengthened Malaysia’s position as a preferred destination,” he said.
Zain Azrai said MyCEB is implementing strategic measures to achieve the annual business events targets based on the Malaysia Business Events Strategic Marketing Plan 2021–2030.
“One of the strategies is to focus on three business event segments, namely corporate incentives and meetings, conventions and trade exhibitions,” he noted.
Zain Azrai said that MyCEB is coming up with a new scheme in the Meet in Malaysia campaign that is more inclusive and interesting to domestic and international business event organisers.
In addition, he said, MyCEB has a new support programme called MyTripleE, launched recently during the Malaysia Business Events Week 2023, which seeks to, among others, increase the scale of events through marketing support and event promotion, speaker management and hospitality services.
On the mangrove tree planting programme, Zain Azrai said it is done in collaboration with strategic partners, including Tourism Selangor, the Kuala Selangor Municipal Council, Malaysian Nature Society, Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers, and KDEB Waste Management.
“When the 100 trees planted through this effort reach maturity in two to three years, they will help to reduce the carbon footprint.
“This CSR programme reflects our commitment to fulfil our environmental responsibility in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals as well as the environmental, social and governance principles,” he added.
