Sarawak Convention Bureau (SCB) in partnership with the Commission of the City of Kuching North (DBKU) has secured the 13th Asia Pacific Orchid Conference and Show (APOC) to be held in 2019. The winning bid was a collaborative effort between local hosts: DBKU, Orchidwoods Company, Commercial Orchid Growers Association of Malaysia (COGAM), Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), the Malaysian Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) and the Sarawak Convention Bureau (SCB).

The biggest gathering of orchid enthusiasts in the international community, APOC is held every three years with the objective to promote awareness and development of the hybridization, cultivation, science and conservation of orchids and to support research in these fields.

“We are excited to host the 13th APOC in Kuching, Sarawak as it is the ideal venue for it! With at least 300 orchid species in Sarawak, and 127 endemic to Sarawak alone, we hope to create greater awareness and develop orchid research and development for Sarawak and Asia Pacific,” commented YBhg Datuk Abang Wahap Abang Julai, Mayor of the Commission of the City of Kuching North (DBKU).

This week-long conference and show is expected to receive international delegates from around the world, in particular Asia Pacific countries. Among the activities include a lecture programme, the orchid show and social programmes that are specially designed to support the exchange and dissemination of common knowledge, recent practices and trends in orchid development, biotechnology, science, and conservation amongst orchid enthusiasts in the international community. APOC is expected to generate RM 1.3 million in direct delegate expenditure.

“SCB is proud to support the Commission of the City of Kuching North in its success to host the 13th Asia Pacific Orchid Conference and Show in 2019 in its effort towards conserving Sarawak’s remaining natural forests and their inherent biodiversity,” commented Mr Mike Cannon, Managing Director of SCB.

Among the Bureau’s recent bid wins include: 9th International Conference on Cutting-Edge Organic Chemistry in Asia 2014, International Conference of the International Vocational Education and Training Association – IVETA 2015, International Conference on Chemical Education 2016 -ICCE- and 7th International Hornbill Conference 2017, to name a few.

Upcoming Events in Sarawak
In 2013, over 25 medium to large events will be held throughout the year, with most events expected to attract between 300 and 1000 delegates, most from outside Malaysia. Such events include the Tropical Peatland & Oil Palm 2013, 2013 IEEE Symposium on Wireless Technology & Applications, The 2nd World Conference on Safety in Science, Industry and Education (WorldSafety2013), IEEE Visual Communications and Image Processing (VCIP) 2013, and Asia Pacific Tourism Hospitality and Technology Conference 2013 APTHAT, among others.