KUCHING: Datuk Abang Abdul Karim Tun Datuk Abang Openg, who is the president of Sarawak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and president of Sarawak Business Federation (SBF), has been appointed as the new chairman of Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) for 2022 – 2023.
This was announced by Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah on Tuesday (Feb 15).
He will be in lieu of Tan Sri Datuk Dr Muhammad Leo Michael Toyad who helmed the board as first chairman of BESarawak since doors opened in 2006.
Abdul Karim also announced the appointment of three new members to the board namely chairman of the Sibu Municipal Council councilor Clarence Ting Ing Horh; chairman of Sarawak Research Society Dr Hiram Ting Huong Yiew; chief scientist and chief advisor for digital economy to the state government whose extensive experience organising international business events is recognised in Melbourne, Australia as a Club Melbourne Ambassador Professor Jugdutt Sigh.
“Business events serve vertical industries with customers from all sectors, so we need strong representation from public and private sectors.
“Abang Abdul Karim is an influential leader with strong business acumen for many decades. He will be supported by equally capable figures to guide Sarawak’s business events industry,” he said in a statement.
Abdul Karim who is also the Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepeneur Development extended his congratulations and welcome the new chairman as well as members on board.
Separately, BESarawak chief executive officer Amelia Roziman said the new board lineup gives good assurance of the industry’s future to her and her team at BESarawak.
“With Abang Abdul Karim’s tremendous insight and experience in business events along with an excellent lineup of other visionary members to assist his role, new ideas will be brought forward on how we can optimize business events to develop the state government’s 13 Key Priority Areas and support Sarawak’s economic growth and social development.
“We look forward to fruitful cooperation with our board,” she said.
Six members have been reappointed for the 2022 – 2023 term namely state financial secretary Datuk Seri Dr Wan Lizozman Wan Omar; Miri Mayor Adam Yii Siew Sang; permanent secretary of Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Hii Chang Kee; director of Sarawak Economic Planning Unit Datuk Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel; senior lecturer of Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Sarawak Associate Professor Dr Margaret Chan Kit Yok and president of Sarawak Tourism Federation Audry Wan Ullok.
