Sarawak aims for longhaul business events

SARAWAK Convention Bureau (SCB) and Borneo Convention Centre Kuching are looking to grow their business beyond Asia-Pacific, and have their sights trained on business events from the US and Europe.

To achieve this objective, both organisations will partner the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau in attending the upcoming IMEX America in Las Vegas this October.

SCB managing director, Mike Cannon, said: “International businesses provide export income, new education and research forums for the people in Sarawak, as well as new trade opportunities for the state. The bureau is also looking to work with the overseas offices of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation to attract more international business events.”

Cannon added that regional and local business events would still be the bureau’s “main focus”.

While debt woes in Europe and the US continue to cast long shadows, Cannon feels that markets in these catchment areas are on the mend, adding that “the idea is to target businesses with a long-term vision and those that can afford to travel longhaul.”

Although international direct flights to Sarawak are currently limited to Singapore and Pontianak in Indonesia, Cannon dismissed connectivity as an obstacle to Sarawak’s aim to lure business events from the US and Europe.

Instead, Cannon said he was confident of improved longhaul connections to Sarawak evolving from Routes Asia 2014, a prominent airline industry event which will be held in Kuching.

Sponsored Post