KUCHING: Floraphile, anthophile, plantsman, get ready as the first homegrown Borneo International Garden Expo Sarawak (BIGEXS) 2023 is scheduled to take place from March 17 to 19 at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK).
Organised by BCCK and Orchidwoods Company, the expo aims to feature Borneo’s unique nature, and horticulture as a passion project for like-minded individuals from in and outside Sarawak with the purpose of promoting Sarawak as one of the horticulture hubs in this region.
It will feature a unique garden display, marketplace, international food market, fashion shows, pop-up boutiques for arts and craft, talks and seminars by renowned botanists, cooking demonstrations of edible plants, and fringe events by Society Atelier Sarawak and others.
The expo will also serve as a platform to disseminate and learn the latest trends and technology and create opportunities for the exchange of information and ideas among exhibitors, regional expert growers and the public.
Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the expo was expected to attract over 20,000 visitors and hoped to bring an economic impact value of approximately RM4.4mil.
“Sarawak is the right place to host this expo for we are rich in flora and fauna, hence, this is timely as it will provide tremendous opportunity not only for domestic gardening, it will give outdoor furniture makers and other exhibitors in this industry a platform to showcase the latest this industry has to offer.
“The indirect economic impact will be extraordinary, such as through the creation of new job opportunities and the expansion of a new horticulturist segment that will have a positive impact on the future of the subcategory of the agriculture sector, including the outdoor furniture industry,” he said during the launch of BIGEXS 2023 at BCCK here on Tuesday (Feb 21).
He added it would also drive both domestic and regional tourism to Kuching, Sarawak, and is also in tandem with the strategy toward value-addition to generate tourism economy as outlined in the Post-Covid19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS) action plan.
“The expo will also be a catalyst to create new business opportunities for those involved in the landscape and gardening industry and to further expand the industry specifically, creating economic growth generally through the display and sales of a large varieties of plants, garden ornaments, gardening equipment and other gardening needs,” he pointed out.
In addition, he added the expo is also expected to bring phenomenal media mileage for Kuching, Sarawak, especially through social media and influencer coverage.
“We also hope to see the expo grow into a new tourist attraction event just like the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF).”
Presently, the expo has garnered the interest of more than 60 exhibitors from various countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore and others.
Furthermore, Dr Peter Boyce, a renowned botanist and taxonomist, is one of the key speakers for BIGEXS. Based in Sarawak for almost 20 years, having previously employed by the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew in the United Kingdom for 15 years as a research botanist specialising in Southeast Asian plants.
Among the notable international exhibitors lined up include Sappasiri Chaovanich from Thailand; Adisak Hongslip (Thailand); Dongfang Tengful Horticuture Biotech Ltd (China); and Neo Cheng Soon Farm (Singapore).
Also present on Tuesday were Deputy Ministers for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Snowdan Lawan and Datuk Sebastian Ting; BCCK executive director Datuk Wilson Baya Dandot, BCCK director Datuk Steve Ng and Orchidwoods company director Au Yong Kien Chung.
For further details, the public can visit https://bigexs.com.my/
