Sarawak ties economic growth to ESG goals
KUALA LUMPUR: Sarawak has cemented its standing as a pioneer in aligning economic expansion with environmental, social and governance goals.
Sarawak has established itself as a leader in combining economic growth with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives. The state recently achieved the Best Sustainability Initiative (Destination) award at the 2026 Meetings & Conventions Asia Stella Awards, marking its second consecutive win. This recognition highlights how Sarawak's Legacy Impact Framework has elevated standards for responsible business events throughout the region, integrating sustainable development with commerce, community welfare, and environmental protection.
Sustainability in Sarawak's framework extends beyond environmental considerations to encompass social and economic advancement, while legacy ensures that the benefits created by business events endure beyond the event itself. Datuk Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, the Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts in Sarawak, emphasized that the framework aligns Sarawak's business events sector with the state's post-Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Since its initial win, Sarawak has turned its vision into tangible actions by implementing educational programs, standardised measurement tools, and industry-wide initiatives that embed legacy principles throughout the entire event lifecycle. Datuk Hii Chang Kee, the Deputy State Secretary (Operation) and chairman of Business Events Sarawak, noted that the award reflects the collaborative efforts of government, industry, organizers, and communities in advancing the legacy journey.
Looking ahead, Sarawak aims to expand the adoption of its legacy impact approach across the broader ecosystem. The next phase involves standardising the planning, measurement, and delivery of legacy outcomes, as well as bolstering industry capacity to transform aspirations into enduring value. Jason Tan Chin Foo, CEO of BESarawak, stressed that legacy impact is gaining increasing importance not just for Sarawak but for the entire Asia Pacific business events sector.
The next phase focuses on achieving broader adoption to ensure consistent planning, measurement, and demonstration of legacy outcomes.
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