Kuching: Sarawak will be awarding grants of up to RM10,000 to fund travel, accommodation, association membership and convention registration fees to successful applicants under the International Convention Scholarship Award (ICSA).
Initiated by Sarawak Convention Bureau, Malaysia’s first bureau for the business events profession, the tenth instalment of ICSAhas issued grants to over 40 business events ambassadors since 2008 to enable Sarawakians to attend conferences around the world, resulting in an influx of knowledge to the state as well as to their respective professions.
“We see the need to help Sarawakians expand their network by attending international conference hosted in other nations. This exposure will help them to gain the confidence in hosting a conference in Sarawak someday,” said Mr Dylan Redas Noel, Head of Industry Development of SCB.
Under the Bureau’s national flaghip “BESarawak” platform, the ICSA is part of the Awarding element; one of three main prongs to empower the state’s Business Events sector towards new heights of professionalism and excellence.
It also coincides with the famed Anak Sarawak Awards, a biennial event to acknowledge the contribution of industry partners and conferences hosts.
In order to qualify for the ICSA, applicants would need to be a Sarawakian, a permanent resident of Sarawak, or at least possess a Sarawakian working permit at time of application.
The choice of convention is to be held from 1 September 2017 to 31 December 2018, able to rotate among different destinations, and have the possibility of being hosted in Malaysia.
The application deadline is 31 July 2017.
“Applicants will not only hold the prestige of being a Business Events ambassador for Sarawak, but this also enables them to expand their credentials and knowledge in their respective professions on the global stage,” said Mr Chew Chang Guan, General Manager of the Government and Industry Relations.
“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity,” he added.
