Thursday, September 16, 2010

International Peat Congress in 2016


SARAWAK will host the 15th International Peat Congress in 2016 (IPC2016) after Malaysia won the bid in Jyvaskyla, Finland, on June 16.

The five-day event scheduled for August 2016 is expected to generate revenue of over RM2.2mil for the local hospitality and tourism sector.

Some 700 national and international delegates are expected to converge at Kuching for the congress.

The winning bid gives credit to the collaborative efforts of the Malaysian Peat Society (MPS) and Sarawak Convention Bureau (SCB).

Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit, who is the MPS president and IPC2016 chairman, said: “We are pleased to win this bid for Malaysia since it will be the first time that this prestigious convention will be held outside Europe and North America. In securing the conference so early, we can draw on a wide international network to assist in the development and sustainable management of peat land and agricultural crops.”

MPS treasurer and IPC2016 congress secretary general Dr Lulie Meling said: “Travelling to Finland to bid for the conference was a truly memorable experience. We put so much effort into winning the bid together with SCB, which has been there for us from the early stage of the bidding process.”

“We presented to our colleagues in Finland the uniqueness of Sarawak, our amazing peat land, and the credibility and strengths of MPS.

“On behalf of the committee, I am honoured that the international decision-makers from around the globe accepted Malaysia’s bid especially since it faced strong competition from colleagues in Latvia,” she added.

SCB chief executive officer Jill Henry said: “Winning this prestigious event will add to the credibility of Sarawak as a preferred MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) destination and new hub for scientists and professional researchers to come together.”

SCB was thrilled with the win and would continue to assist other organisations prepared to bid nationally and internationally, she added

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