The corporate sector in Malaysia has been urged to play a bigger role to support the local business events industry by organising incentive trips, conferences, meetings and exhibitions domestically.
Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) CEO Abdul Khani Daud said he has been encouraging the business events sector to start thinking more creatively to help stimulate the economy.
For example, Abdul Khani said a small board of directors meeting can be held in a green setting such as the Belum Rainforest, instead of a boardroom in the city.
Currently, MyCEB is researching, developing and identifying such niche products and unique venues that are suitable for business events.
In addition, MyCEB plans to organise roadshows to the country’s major MICE destinations – Penang, Selangor, Melaka, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak in coming months.
Recently, the first business exchange session was organised in Kuala Lumpur in conjunction with MyCEB’s annual flagship event, Malaysia Business Events Week. This sixth edition incorporated a B2B trade component for the first time.
Abdul Khani has also been encouraging venues to invest in upgrading their technology, as technology will drive the business events industry forward.
When asked how large-scale events might take place in the future, he envisioned: “Take for example a hybrid meeting for 5,000 participants. Two thousand of them could be in Kuala Lumpur, another 1,000 in Penang, 1,000 in Sabah and 1,000 in Sarawak. After the conference, they could go for post tours and enjoy themselves in their chosen destination.”
Abdul Khani also plans to revamp MyCEB’s website to make it a user-friendly, one-stop information centre on business events-related matters in the country, which includes information on various MICE venues.
MyCEB will also assist and support potential homegrown events so that such they can grow in size and stature and pull in an international audience when the situation improves.
