KUCHING: Collaborations are pivotal for the advancement of the business events industry, said Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
He said this in a speech read by Deputy Minister Datuk Sebastian Ting during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) and five public and private universities here Tuesday (Sept 26).
He added that it forms the basis of their business events campaign, Tribe Legacy Sarawak, to offer and deliver greater value to the industry and destination through strategic collaborations.
“The academic community is important to the business events industry. University members are some of the most active conference and exhibition planners in Sarawak.
“They are at the forefront of academic expertise and research with a commitment and passion for educational and professional development. Thus, they are an important group to both the industry and society,” he explained.
Karim said their collaboration with both private and public universities in Malaysia, will grant them access to facilities and resources for bidding, developing, and hosting influential academic business events.
Additionally, they will facilitate talent development by providing internship and project opportunities to students with the aim of nurturing a fresh cohort of business event professionals and leaders, securing the industry’s sustainability for the future.
“Another important initiative that will be driven by the MoU today is data collection and sharing.
“As we are aware, data is extremely vital in the modern business environment.
“What we hope to achieve together under the programme is to leverage our partners’ data research and analysis, to further enhance our offerings for business events,” he explained.
The purpose as an industry, he added, is now beyond securing business events but to create a legacy impact — or positive, long-term change — from the partnerships developed and events hosted in Sarawak.
The MoU was signed between BESarawak and Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, UCSI University Sarawak Campus, University of Technology Sarawak (UTS), and Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP).
In a related development, Ting informed reporters that Sarawak is experiencing a shortage of new skills and professionals due to its rapid development.
“As we venture into numerous green technologies championed by our Premier, the demand for professionals is substantial.
“I’ve pinpointed a shortage in four sectors: unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled, and professional. These groups are conspicuously scarce across diverse industries.
“With the signing of today’s MoU, aligning with the PCDS 2030, one of our objectives is to foster collaboration that will attract more individuals to enhance their skills and nurture our youth as we progress toward 2030,” he said.
