THEMED Innovations in MICE – The Way Forward, the inaugural AEC (ASEAN Economic Community)+ Expo 2015 which will be held in Kuala Lumpur from November 11 to 13, 2015, is projected to yield more than RM28 million (US$6.8 million) in economic impact and some RM14 million from visitor expenditure for Malaysia.
AEC+ Expo 2015 is jointly organised by The Asian Federation of Exhibition and Convention Associations (AFECA) and the Malaysia Association of Convention and Exhibition Organiser and Suppliers (MACEOS) and supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia, Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) and the International Association of Exhibitions and Events.
The three-day event will comprise four components – a B2B business events matching, forum sessions, a MICE Youth Challenge where 23 university teams in Asia will compete on a MICE planning competition, and awards presentations for industry members. One will be the AFECA Gala Dinner and Awards and the RAWR Awards (Recognising Award Winning Results within the business events industry), a joint collaboration between MACEOS and MyCEB.
Participation from across Asia-Pacific is expected, with attendance by some 150 exhibitors and a further 300 to 400 delegates at the forum sessions.
Vincent Lim, MACEOS president, said: “Malaysia was chosen to host the event to complement her role as the chair of the ASEAN Economic Community.”
MyCEB CEO, Zulkefli Sharif, added: “This event gives us an opportunity to enhance the country’s branding internationally as Asia’s business events hub. It will showcase Malaysia’s offerings as well as international business event capabilities to local and international buyers, meeting planners and corporate clients.”
Walter Yeh, president of AFECA, said AEC+Expo is set to become an annual event, and his members will have to bid to host this prestigious gathering.
AFECA was founded in 2005 with the objectives of promoting the growth and development of the exhibition and convention industry in Asia.
