KUALA LUMPUR: Sarawak is strengthening its position as a regional business events hub through strategic investments in infrastructure, aviation connectivity and industry partnerships, as it shifts from destination marketing towards long-term economic impact and sector development.
The state is banking on large-scale infrastructure upgrades and ecosystem development to capture greater opportunities in the global meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions industry, particularly as business travel and international conferences continue to recover post-pandemic.
A key catalyst is the upcoming expansion of the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), which is expected to be completed in 2028, and the introduction of AirBorneo, Sarawak’s regional airline.
With BCCK2, improved air connectivity and stronger institutional collaboration in the pipeline, Sarawak appears to be positioning business events not only as a tourism driver, but as a platform to attract investment, support industrial growth and strengthen its broader economic transformation agenda.
Sarawak’s growing ambitions were highlighted through its participation at the IMEX Frankfurt 2026 for the fourth consecutive year, reflecting a broader strategy to position the state as Malaysia and Borneo’s “legacy capital” for business events.
The state’s presence at the global trade exhibition aligns with the state’s post-pandemic development agenda under the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030), which prioritises sustainability, innovation and long-term economic value creation.
Hii Chang Kee, chairman of Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak), said the state’s international engagement is increasingly focused on attracting collaborations that generate broader economic benefits rather than merely promoting Sarawak as an event venue.
He said Sarawak is positioning itself as a strategic partner for event organisers by supporting sustainability and legacy initiatives, while facilitating opportunities linked to investment, innovation, talent development and sectoral growth.
Beyond physical infrastructure, the state is also investing in “soft infrastructure” to deepen industry linkages and knowledge transfer. Among these efforts is an academic mobility programme that connects universities, industry stakeholders and international partners through technical visits, study exchanges and collaborative learning initiatives aligned with Sarawak’s economic priority sectors.
Acting BESarawak chief executive officer Jason Tan Chin Foo said such initiatives are aimed at reinforcing Sarawak’s long-term competitiveness in business events while creating wider benefits for communities and economic sectors.