A positive nod towards Penang's business events future with PCEB CEO Ashwin Gunasekaran, Penang State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy Yeoh Soon Hin and Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow during Be@Penang 2022 opening ceremony. Photo Credit: Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau
Penang's food, culture and heritage have long been top draws for
tourists, but the destination is proving equally attractive for
meetings, events and conferences.
A key world-class event that showcased Penang’s strength as a MICE
destination was the recent 26th edition of World Congress on Innovation
& Technology (WCIT) 2022, according to Penang Chief Minister Chow
Kon Yeow.
Speaking at the opening of Be@Penang 2022 last week, organised by the
Penang Convention and Exhibition Bureau (PCEB), he said: “Penang was
chosen because we have the ecosystem.”
The Penang chief minister highlighted the legacy impact of such
conferences, saying they help advance the local supply chain that
supports Penang’s prowess and status as a global electrical and
electronics (E&E) hub.
“The opportunity for investment (RM46 billion worth of foreign and
domestic digital investments was announced at WCIT) will bring about the
localisation of supply chains and SMEs and SMIs will benefit.”
The state's green credentials also make it desirable as a host
destination for meetings and events. Penang 2030 is a framework and
roadmap for Penang to move forward, powered by the green economy.
“Sustainability is always the top priority of Penang,” explained
Josephine Tan, general manager of Penang Green Council, the country’s
first, which was set up to promote sustainable development and help the
country achieve the Penang 2030 Vision and the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals. “We have a framework to help events and
planners, to bring them closer to sustainable solutions and meetings.”
PCEB CEO, Ashwin Gunasekaran, added that its collaboration with the
International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) in 2023 to
curate educational programs to upskill and reskill the business events
industry in Malaysia will further enrich sustainability efforts in the
state. “Our intention with this collaboration is to also support the
local community so they benefit from the impact of legacy events hosted
in Penang.”
PCEB also signed another MOU at the event with Malaysia Robotics and
Automation Society (MyRAS) to further explore the possibilities of
elevating the technology segment in the service industry.
Gunasekaran is confident the two MOUs will steer PCEB in the right
direction, as business events and conferences in Penang are expected to
bounce back to pre-pandemic level in 2023 with the economic revenue
projected to reach RM1 billion.