Liew (third right) with the BNI delegation and Ministry officials. On her right is Chin.
KOTA KINABALU: Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew has been invited to officially launch the inaugural Borneo Expo 2024, envisaged to be Sabah’s premier post-pandemic business event and as a platform for young entrepreneurs to grow their business ventures, at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) here on May 3.
A delegation from Business Network International (BNI) Sabah North extended the invitation to her during a recent courtesy call.
Founded in 1985, BNI is the world’s largest business networking organisation whose members help each other grow their businesses.
Liew commended the organisers for taking the initiative to get business owners and entrepreneurs from other Malaysian states and foreign countries to participate in the event.
“This is a great opportunity for participants to connect for the purpose of local and international business collaboration that would spur the State’s economy,” she said.
Briefing the Minister, Chief Executive Officer of the Event Working Team Brandon Chin said Borneo Expo 2024 with the theme “Unlocking Sabah Opportunities” offers business matchmaking and networking sessions, insightful business talks and workshops.
For youth empowerment, the programme includes a youth entrepreneurs forum with eight Malaysian and international speakers, he added.
He said the expo serves as a springboard for entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services, among other objectives.
“We expect to draw some 300 to 500 participants from Malaysia and different parts of the world because BNI is worldwide, apart from business association representatives in and outside of Sabah. Our targeted visitors are members of business associations nationwide, including BNI Malaysia, local consumers and those from foreign countries,” said Chin.
According to him, there are about 150 exhibition booths with exhibitors comprising Malaysian and foreign businesses, BNI Sabah North, business associations as well as government departments and agencies.
Other members of the BNI delegation were Deputy Organising Chairman Jerome Yong, Public Relations Director Daniel Chong and Media Coordinator Alan Wong.
Also present were Ministry officials Hajah Dg Nur Zilah Hassilah Ag Kachee (Principal Assistant Secretary) and Dr Dayang Siti Maryam Mohd Hanan (Senior Assistant Secretary).
