The prestigious M&C (Meetings & Conventions) Asia Stella Awards recently honored Sarawak’s legacy impact strategy for business events by awarding it the title of Best Sustainability Initiative in the Destination category. This accolade specifically recognizes the Business Events Sarawak Legacy Initiative (BESLegacy Initiative) as the most innovative sustainability program among all destinations across Asia.
Launched in 2020 by Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak), the BESLegacy Initiative stands out as the first and only comprehensive framework in Malaysia designed for business event planners. It empowers them to strategize their conventions and exhibitions by focusing on legacy outcomes that promote sustainability. These outcomes encompass crucial aspects such as community development, environmental stewardship, and economic enhancement.
The Hon. Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, the Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, expressed pride in this achievement, stating, “Sarawak has been diligently prioritizing sustainable practices in business events through our Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030. Our aspirations center around economic prosperity, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability, and this award is a testament to our commitment to Sarawak’s overall development.” He added that the recognition from the global industry fuels their enthusiasm to position Sarawak as a premier destination for responsible and impactful business events.
Echoing this sentiment, Dato Sri Abang Haji Abdul Karim Bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg, Chairman of BESarawak, remarked on their focus on fostering a sustainable economy, society, and environment. He emphasized that their campaign, dubbed Tribe Legacy Sarawak, with the tagline “Driving Impact Together,” succinctly encapsulates the incredible achievements that arise from collaborative efforts directed toward a shared vision. He affirmed that Sarawak is poised to build on this remarkable success by advocating for sustainable growth and nurturing innovative collaborations that will generate lasting legacies for its society.
Amelia Roziman, CEO of BESarawak, highlighted the importance of incremental efforts, stating, “Making a significant impact results from numerous smaller, meaningful actions.” This recognition serves as motivation to continue attracting business events that resonate with both government priorities and community interests, ensuring that every event contributes positively to long-term sustainable progress.
In a significant development related to this initiative, BESarawak has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. This partnership aims to conduct a comprehensive economic and legacy impact study to evaluate the actual sustainability outcomes—encompassing economic, social, and environmental dimensions—of selected business events held in Sarawak. The findings from this study are expected to culminate in the launch of a legacy impact measurement “dashboard,” which will visualize the economic contributions and legacies of business events. This innovative tool is anticipated to be unveiled in the first quarter of 2025, further enhancing the commitment to sustainability in business events.
