Country focus
Malaysia moves
MITEC
New capacity leads Dato Vincent Lim President MACEOS, to
predict a positive year ahead for Malaysia’s exhibition sector
recent increase in
exhibition capacity in
Malaysia, thanks most
recently to the opening of
the Malaysia International Trade &
Exhibition Centre (MITEC) in 2017 in
Kuala Lumpur, with 45,000sqm, has
seen a renewed increase in interest
and enquiries in the country and its
exhibition facilities. That, at least, is
the view of Dato Vincent Lim,
President of the Malaysian
Association of Convention &
Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers
(MACEOS). He tells EW that, based on
UFI’s report, the country’s exhibition
industry is one of the economy’s
expected key growth drivers and set
to grow by 4.5% over two years.
“Malaysia is still considered a
relatively new player in the region
because previously we lacked
capacity,” Dato Lim says, noting on
the plus side that the country is
strategically located within the
ASEAN Economic Community, is
business-friendly, and offers a strong
value for money proposition. “It is,”
he adds, “an easy place to do
business, and is English speaking.”
Dato Lim says MACEOS strongly
encourages international organisers
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Issue 1 2019
keen to establish new shows in
Malaysia to collaborate with the local
players who have good connections
with local government, associations
and the business community.
“MACEOS can assist with this,” he
adds.
In terms of the outlook for 2019,
Dato Lim predicts a positive year
ahead for the sector with several new
shows lined up and more interest set
to come from both international and
local organisers.
“We also have good support from
the government to grow our industry
via the Ministry of International
Trade, Malaysia Convention and
Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) and the
city bureaus,” he adds, noting that
more capacity is in the pipeline.
Supporting facilities are clearly
growing, with several new
international hotel properties
recently opened in Malaysia,
including Four Seasons, W Hotel,
Sofitel and EQ.
The new Malaysia government has
also announced some new initiatives
and budget for promising sectors,
including the digital economy,
industry 4.0, healthcare, research and
green technology.
The new MITEC complex sits on a
sprawling 75.5 acres of KL
Metropolis, an integrated
development within the capital’s
International Trade and Exhibition
District. It positions itself as an
economic catalyst and gateway to
Southeast Asia, is now the third
largest MICE venue in Southeast Asia
and the largest trade and exhibition
centre in Malaysia.
MITEC started off 2019 by bringing
the hashtag #myfoodmalaysia centre
stage for its Food and Beverage
offerings.
The complex has been taking a cue
from the Instagram ‘click plate’
concept and showcasing its culinary
experiences, “shifting perceptions of
what people expect from meeting
spaces,” as Executive Chef Chiew
Chee Mun puts it.
MITEC has three concepts,
including The Flying Lunch Stall
concept, whereby all cutlery and
utensils are disposable and
recyclable; Colourful Seasonal Fruits
themed for a healthier coffee break
and, a Dining Dessert Bar.
Visitors can savour MITEC’s
signature giant doughnut and
assorted long baguette sandwiches,
which are 120 inches long.
“For MITEC’s F&B offerings, our
mindsets have shifted by moving
away from large-scale pre-packaged
food and standard buffet offerings
and we are doing things different and
fresh, which means individual
portioning. We want our guests to
have more connection with food,”
says Chiew.
w w w.exhibitionworld.co.uk