Malaysia hosts UIA Associations Round Table

Malaysia has successfully hosted the 6^th UIA Associations Round Table Asia-Pacific 2018 (UIA 2018) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, 26–27 September 2018. The interactive two-day programme was organised by the Union of International Associations (UIA) and hosted by the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC). In conjunction with the UIA event, MyCEB also held the annual Malaysia Association Next (MyNext), its annual association conference for local association leaders and professionals. This was designed to leverage on the presence of its international counterparts. The UIA Associations Round Table brought 100 business events industry players from 16 countries, including the President of UIA, Cyril Ritchie, who delivered an opening keynote. The President of African Society of Association Executives (AfSAE), Jeffers Miruka; the Founder of Pan Asia Risk and Insurance Management Association (PARIMA), Steve Tunstall; the Chief Executive of Cancer Research Malaysia, Professor Teo Soo-Hwang, and Dato’ Seri Dr Ronald McCoy, the founding member of Nobel Peace Prize 2017 International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, were among the speakers and attendees. MyCEB Chief Executive Officer Datuk Zulkefli Hj. Sharif said: “It was an honour to host the prestigious UIA Round Table Asia-Pacific in Malaysia for the first time and it was even more wonderful to hear that UIA and the participants were impressed with the country’s warm and friendly hospitality, as well as our rich multicultural heritage. The feedback received throughout the visit has affirmed Malaysia has many attractive propositions that make us a premier business events destination.” UIA President, Cyril Ritchie, added: “We are delighted with the outcome of this year’s UIA Asia-Pacific Round Table, a lot of thought-provoking ideas were shared and debated. Malaysia was a wonderful host.”