Sarawak has won the bid to host the 24th Asian Congress on Occupational Health (ACOH), scheduled on August 5–8, 2026, at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching.
The congress is expected to attract 2,000 occupational safety and health experts from across the globe, and is the second time that Malaysia is hosting the triennial congress after 29 years.
Amelia Roziman, CEO of BESarawak, said: “The estimated total economic impact of ACOH 2026 is valued at RM16.4 million (US$3.7 million), categorised by direct delegate expenditure of RM8.9 million, RM984,000 in tax revenue for Sarawak, and 1,301 jobs supported and created from the organising and hosting of ACOH 2026. We also look forward to collaborating with the host to build an occupational and environmental health legacy that will benefit our growing communities.”
The theme for the 2026 event is Navigating Global Cross-Cultural Perspective on Occupational Health: Shaping the Future for Sustainability, focusing on how cultural differences influence occupational health approaches and how these insights can contribute to sustainable practices in the field. A key aspect of the congress is to motivate collaboration between academia and the workplace to advance the field of occupational health in the region.
The scientific programme includes three plenaries and 12 symposia covering topics such as Sustainable Practices in Occupational Health, Innovations in Occupational Health, Ergonomics, Industrial Hygiene and Mental Health and Wellbeing. There will also be Poster and Free Paper Presentations throughout the three-day event.
Hosting the event is the Academy of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Malaysia in collaboration with the Asian Association of Occupational and Environmental Health, which advocates for the protection of the health of workers and the promotion of wellness within the working population.
The international bid win resulted from a collaboration between the Academy of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Malaysia, Business Events Sarawak, and the Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau.
