Malaysia's rise as meeting hub
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Malaysia has emerged as a prominent destination for international conferences, bolstering its status as a global meetings hub. The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) GlobeWatch Country and City Rankings 2025 positioned Malaysia 32nd among 142 qualified international locations. Kuala Lumpur secured the 29th spot globally, hosting 73 qualifying meetings.
Robert Hatton-Jones, deputy general manager of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, emphasized that the ranking highlights Malaysia's capacity to host international association meetings, generating value beyond the events themselves. These gatherings foster knowledge exchange, collaboration, and economic growth among global experts, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders.
The Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) contributed significantly to this growth, securing 393 business events in 2025, generating an estimated RM4.07 billion in economic impact. In the first half of 2026, MyCEB organized 194 business events, attracting over 341,000 delegates and generating RM1.81 billion in economic activity. As of June 30, the bureau had arranged 416 international business events for 2026 to 2030, estimated to yield RM8.27 billion in economic benefits and a cumulative RM34.97 billion by 2030.
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre accommodated 756,721 delegates in 2025, including 59,013 international attendees, generating RM1.5 billion in economic impact. The ripple effects extended to hotels, restaurants, transport operators, and local suppliers, providing opportunities for Malaysian companies to connect with international partners and investors.
Notable events like the Health Summit Asia 2026 and the Energy Transition Conference 2026 underscored Kuala Lumpur's expanding role as a platform for cross-sector collaboration.
The convention center is also focusing on younger audiences through energy literacy programs, offering students engagement with industry matters. Sustainability is increasingly important, with the convention center working towards a long-term climate roadmap to 2050, addressing emissions, water, and waste management.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- Malaysia's rise as meeting hub nst.com.my
