BE Sarawak, SAIC to explore collaboration

KUCHING (September 24): Business Events Sarawak (BE Sarawak) and the Sarawak AI Centre (SAIC) have inked a memorandum of collaboration to develop the Sarawak Business Events Analytics and Collaboration Network (Sarawak BEACON). This initiative aims to enhance the utilization of data and insights within Sarawak's business events industry, enabling more informed decision-making for stakeholders.

Representing BE Sarawak, CEO Jason Tan attended the MOC ceremony with SAIC CEO Professor Patrick Then, alongside other distinguished guests including the Sarawak Deputy Premier, Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, and Deputy State Secretary (Operation) and BESarawak Chairman. Sarawak BEACON is set to function as a centralized industry intelligence system, integrating data from various sectors such as accommodation, events, venues, transportation, supply chain, and healthcare.

This centralized system is expected to provide stakeholders with a better understanding of the industry's capacity, capabilities, and development needs. Tan highlighted the significance of data integration in understanding strengths, gaps, and opportunities, while Then emphasized the AI aspect of the project, stating their aspiration to create a sovereign agentic AI platform that keeps Sarawak in control of its data while harnessing AI for deeper intelligence and proactive decision-making.

As Sarawak progresses into a new era of data-driven decision-making, BEACON represents a shift from merely recognizing what has been constructed to using intelligence to determine the future requirements of the business events industry. Ultimately, the goal of the initiative is to cultivate a robust body of industry intelligence to assist government and industry decision-makers, uncover emerging opportunities, and provide a solid evidence base for future investment and development.