MIRI: Two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) to develop the world’s first international journal of business events and legacies were inked yesterday (Mar 16).
The first MoU was signed between Curtin University and Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) to form the journal as an entity.
This was followed by an MoU between Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sarawak and the Sarawak Research Society as strategic partners to expand the journal’s reach and visibility across multiple professional networks.
The MoU-signing ceremony which was held at Curtin University Malaysia Sarawak campus here was witnessed by Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Hamzah who said “it is a significant piece of work to preserve our knowledge in permanent records of research.”
He described it as a tool for industry students, practitioners, researchers and policymakers to understand the relationship between hosting business events and correlating activities such as management, economics and entrepreneurship among many other disciplines.
“There are only nine journals and these focus on individual aspects of business events but none that dive into all aspects, including corporate meetings and corporate incentives.
“From this careful research, we are proud to announce that this will be the first journal in South East Asia to focus on business events, and the first in the world to merge business events and legacy topics under one title,” Karim told those present.
He added: “Pioneering this topic will make Sarawak competitive and known globally; especially as the journal is backed by well-respected global associations and organisations such as Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and the International Congress and Convention Association ( ICCA), The Iceberg and GainingEdge.
“On top of international support, we have local and national association support from the Association of Sarawak Inbound Agencies (ASIA), Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS), and Malaysian Association of Travel and Tour Agencies (MATTA), Sarawak Tourism Federation (STF), Business Events Council Malaysia (BECM) and Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB).
“Currently, there are 44 members from 15 countries who will share their resources in the making of the journal.”
Abdul Karim the members wer from Malaysia, Singapore, UK, Italy, France, Spain, Australia, China, USA, Oman, Libya, Serbia, Iran, Greece and Switzerland.
“We expect to increase the number of international collaborators in the future.
“We are proving to the world again that Sarawak is a strong and capable destination driven by the knowledge economy. We have the power to advocate for legacy impact at greater levels, with real knowledge behind them.
“Legacy is the way forward. We are one of the handfuls of second-tier destinations in Asia Pacific to lead the legacy impact movement and our position is rather unique – even to the eyes of international players,” the minister added.
He said the future of business events was legacy-driven that was technologically connected and more sustainable towards the environment.
“In Sarawak, we have already included the industry as a vital sub-sector to the economic and social development of the State; one that thoroughly supports the Sarawak government’s goal to transform our destination into a progressive, high-income state by 2030 in line with the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy ,” said Karim.
Also present were Deputy Minister of Tourism Sarawak Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew, Permanent secretary to the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Hii Chang Kee, CEO of Business Events Sarawak Amelia Roziman, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Curtin Malaysia Professor Simon Leunig, Rector of UiTM Sarawak Professor Dato Dr Jamil Hamali and chairman of Sarawak Research Society Dr Hiram Ting.
