KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Irmohizam Ibrahim, currently the Group Managing Director of the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL), was unanimously chosen as the first individual to be appointed as the Chairman of Convention and Exhibition (C&E) Member Advisory Council (MAC) World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) headquartered in New York, United States. While the Vice Chairman, Okay Basbug, is from the World Trade Center Istanbul. Previously, WTCA divided the C&E MAC into several regions, namely the Asia Pacific, America and Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). Recently, all WTCA Board members have agreed to merge all the MACs into one global group. This amalgamation will increase participation in business events, exhibitions, and conventions from all WTCA members. It is hoped that it will also benefit the rest of the world to collaborate and diversify services such as the Business Events (BE) industry.

The Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) and BE industries were heavily impacted by the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. It is estimated that the lockdowns (full and partial) and the delays in reopening the industry has cost Malaysia, in particular, of more than RM27.5 billion in gross domestic product (GDP) losses. Furthermore, the Malaysian tourism industry suffered RM45 billion in revenue loss. With this new merger, it is hoped all WTCA members can work together to rejuvenate and re-elevate the glory of this industry in the post-pandemic period.

"It is a great honour not just to be the first Malaysian, but also the first Bumiputera to hold this position in chairing the global Convention and Exhibition industry, I sincerely hope that our country's image can be enhanced and viewed positively by the whole world through more cooperation and collaboration amongst WTCA members which now comprises of 326 WTCs worldwide. In order to revive this industry, an opened and inclusive approach by every member is necessary," said Datuk Seri Dr Irmohizam Ibrahim.

Datuk Seri Dr Irmohizam Ibrahim who hails from the quaint village of Kampung Kuantan, Kuala Selangor, expressed his sincere gratitude and thanks to all WTCA Board Members and the leadership of the World Trade Centers in all 86 countries who gave him confidence in leading a world organisation in the MICE and BE industries. The tenure is a two-year term and Datuk Seri Dr Irmohizam Ibrahim wishes to collaborate and make connections as much as possible to generate great sharing of experiences between the global members. There are potentially significant synergies that remain untapped. WTCKL will strive to explore cooperation strategies that will result in revenue growth by consistently revitalising the tourism and trade industries in Malaysia by advocating cooperation in the form of travel bubbles amongst member countries. Furthermore, the MAC remains committed to stand relevant through enhancing engagement, advocacy, and branding; creating awareness; building new networking; and crafting new methods to propel further so that business events can be a new form of economy for the brand of WTCA. 

Lastly, this appointment can be viewed as a triumph: for all Malaysians battling and coping with the COVID-19 pandemic and for recognising the full confidence of all member countries in the capabilities of an 'Anak Malaysia'.