KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is ready to play a stronger leadership and collaborative role in the global business events landscape by positioning itself as a credible regional convenor for East Asean through sustained investment in people, partnerships and professional standards, said BE in Sabah Forum 2026 organising chairperson Datuk Rosmawati Lasuki (
pic).
Rosmawati, also Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) chief executive officer, said the region is increasingly prepared not only to participate but to contribute meaningfully and have a stronger voice in international business events discussions, speaking at the closing ceremony of the two-day BE in Sabah Forum 2026 on Thursday.
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She said the forum examined how business events can support regional cooperation, industry capability and economic connectivity across the Asia-Pacific, with participation from policymakers, industry leaders and practitioners.
Rosmawati said Sabah’s active engagement with international bodies such as the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), as well as guidance from Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (Maceos) Malaysia president Datuk Dr M Gandhi and the Maceos Sabah Chapter, reflects the State’s alignment with globally accepted frameworks and readiness for regional engagement.
She said key outcomes included a memorandum of understanding between the Goyang Convention and Visitors Bureau, Goyang International Expo and SICC, alongside ongoing capacity-building initiatives such as the Certified Event Designer programme, BE Boot Camp and BE Youth Hub, underscoring Sabah’s commitment to developing globally competitive industry talent.
