KOTA KINABALU: The 3rd International Business Events Forum BE in Sabah 2026 is expected to draw 800 regional and international delegates.
The event will be held on 4-5 February 2026, bringing together representatives from government agencies, tourism and business events bodies, industry stakeholders and the media to outline the forum’s positioning, objectives and international scope.
Themed “Global Collaboration Through Business Events”, the forum is jointly organised by SICC and the Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS) Sabah Chapter.
It is supported by key state and destination stakeholders including the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Sabah Convention Bureau, Sabah Tourism Board and Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK).
And it will be positioned as a strategic Asia Pacific platform examining how business events support trade facilitation, investment flows, market confidence and cross-border collaboration.
BE in Sabah 2026 is designed as a regional platform for dialogue and collaboration within the global business events community, said SICC Chief Executive Officer and Organising Chairperson Datuk Rosmawati Lasuki during a preview for the media and industry stakeholders at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC).
“In a period of economic and geopolitical uncertainty, business events play an increasingly strategic role in facilitating trade, investment and knowledge exchange.
“The forum brings international and Asia Pacific leaders together to share perspectives, strengthen partnerships and support long-term industry resilience,” she said.
It will feature a high-level international speaker line-up representing leading global institutions within the business events ecosystem.
Participating organisations include the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC), Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), international exhibition and event consulting firms, major convention and exhibition centres, destination and convention bureaux, as well as industry media and strategy organisations focusing on global market intelligence and destination advisory services.
The two-day programme is structured around keynote sessions and plenary discussions addressing issues shaping the global business events landscape.
These include global industry growth and competitiveness, cross-border collaboration as a commercial strategy, artificial intelligence and data-driven decision-making, sustainability and climate responsibility, leadership and resilience in volatile markets, future workforce development, and the role of business events in supporting trade, investment and long-term economic outcomes.
The event offers access to institutional perspectives that influence policy, investment and industry standards.
Early bird registration is available until 31 December 2025, and the forum is HRD Corp claimable. – Wu Vuide
Rosmawati (centre), together with industry stakeholders.
