Malaysia’s Sibu Business Events Committee elects new chairman

Dr Renco Yong, executive director of Gimhwak Group of companies, has been appointed the new chairman of the Sibu Business Events Committee (SBEC) in the Malaysian state of Sarawak. Dr Yong chaired his first SBEC meeting with all 27 committee members, 25 July, at Tanahmas Hotel in Sibu. A PhD holder in Maritime Technology, Dr Yong has had a distinguished career in the shipping industry, having transformed a family-owned shipping business in Sibu into an international powerhouse, securing the ISO9001 in 2023 and winning several business and industry awards. Dr Yong has played an active role in the Association of Maritime Industries of Malaysia, Federation of Malaysia Manufacturers, Sarawak Association of Maritime Industries, and Sarawak and the Sabah Shipowners Association (SSSA). Dr Renco is also a director at four local educational institutions and a council member of the Malaysia Ministry of Transport National Shipping and Port Council. He is a sought-after speaker, sharing his expertise in over 100 business events worldwide regarding maritime and related industries. The Sibu Business Events Committee was formed in 2019 as the Business Events Consortium of Sibu and revamped as the Sibu Business Events Committee in 2022. SBEC sits under Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak). Since SBEC, Sibu hosted 46 business events worth approximately RM150.4m (US$32.3m) in total economic impact, making it the second most active host city in Sarawak after Kuching. “SBEC is a proactive business community with a collaborative spirit. With Dr Yong’s diverse skillsets and strong business acumen, we believe that SBEC can globalise Sibu into a truly competitive business events destination in Malaysia, said Amelia Roziman, CEO of BESarawak. “There are eight business events in the pipeline for Sibu this year worth RM33.7m in total economic impact, and a majority are homegrown conferences drawing national and international delegates. Sibu is a self-made success story and SBEC can become a force to be reckoned with.” “My mission is to lead SBEC in a holistic approach, where securing events goes hand-in-hand with fostering long-term industry growth in Sibu such as developing much-needed local talents and enhancing event standards,” said Dr Yong. “I hope to inject more creative energy and innovative thinking to strengthen and sustain our industry. It is an honour to be elected as the chairman and a responsibility that will receive my full attention.” The Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau also joined the session in Sibu, represented by Mohamad Isa Abdul Halim, director of meeting and support incentives, who introduced the national bureau’s latest incentives for the industry.