Sarawak Expands its Convention Infrastructure Ahead of a Historic Milestone

There is a particular kind of confidence that comes not from ambition alone, but from a track record. Kuching, the quietly compelling capital of Sarawak on the island of Borneo, has spent twenty years building exactly that. Since the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) first opened its doors in 2009, it has helped establish Sarawak as a credible host for international meetings, drawing delegates from across the world to one of Southeast Asia’s most distinctive destinations.

Now, that credibility is being matched with infrastructure. The expansion of BCCK – currently known as BCCK2 – marks a defining moment in Sarawak’s business events evolution. And the timing is no accident.

A Venue Ready for 2028 and Beyond

In 2028, Sarawak will host the International Water Association (IWA) World Water Congress & Exhibition, an event expected to draw more than 10,000 delegates from across the globe. It will be the first congress of its scale ever held in Sarawak, and one of the most significant international gatherings the region has seen. BCCK2 is being built, in no small part, to ensure that Sarawak is ready.

According to Rayner Simon, Chief Operating Officer at BCCK, the expansion was a response to growing demand that the existing facility could no longer comfortably contain. “Since opening in 2009, BCCK has helped Sarawak build a credible track record in hosting international meetings, particularly in areas such as renewable energy, sustainability, healthcare and science,” he explains. “Over time, this has led to stronger interest from organisers looking at Kuching for larger events. The awarding of the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition 2028 is one clear sign of that momentum. At the same time, demand is beginning to outgrow what the existing facility can comfortably support. That is why the expansion is taking place now.”

The expansion introduces 10,755 sqm of new event space, including a main hall, a multi-purpose hall and 20 breakout rooms, bringing the total number of breakout rooms across the complex to 34. Combined with BCCK1’s 6,771 sqm, the integrated venue now offers 17,526 sqm of space, accommodating up to 15,000 delegates. With both buildings directly connected, BCCK1 and BCCK2 function as one seamless complex, enabling effortless flow between plenary sessions, exhibitions, concurrent tracks and networking engagements.

For event organisers, this connectivity matters enormously. Large-scale congresses are logistically complex: multiple sessions run simultaneously, exhibitors need space, sponsors need visibility, and delegates need to move efficiently. Simon describes the operational improvement plainly: “With BCCK1 and BCCK2 linked directly, delegates can move more easily between plenary sessions, breakout rooms, exhibitions and other event spaces. This will help events run more smoothly, especially larger meetings where movement, timing and proximity matter.”

For planners weighing events above 5,000 delegates, he adds, the calculus goes beyond headline capacity. “They want to know whether the venue can support plenary sessions, breakout rooms, exhibitions, side meetings, sponsor activations and delegate movement in a practical way. BCCK2 gives Sarawak a stronger footing in that regard, especially for events that want everything to run within one connected venue environment.”

There is also a sense of place. The area in front of BCCK2 opens onto a sweeping view of the Sarawak River and the mangrove belt beyond, creating a natural backdrop for outdoor evening receptions and experiences that feel authentically Bornean, a quality that is difficult to manufacture in a world of interchangeable convention halls.

A Destination With Something to Say

Behind Sarawak’s expansion sits a policy framework that is ambitious in its specificity – and a business events organisation that has been instrumental in shaping it.

Sarawak’s Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 identifies business events as one of six key economic sectors driving the state’s development. The strategy’s vision – that by 2030, Sarawak will be a thriving society driven by data and innovation – is anchored in thirteen priority areas spanning energy transition, sustainability, digital development, healthcare and research. 

These are precisely the sectors that international associations are most actively debating, researching and legislating. When an international congress arrives in Kuching, it is not visiting a destination that happens to host events. It is arriving in a place where the conversation it carries is already underway.

Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) has formalised this alignment through its BESLegacy Initiative, a framework that embeds legacy impact thinking into every stage of event planning, measuring outcomes across three dimensions: Social, Economic, and Environmental (SEE). It is a model that has attracted international attention. Sarawak’s legacy approach won the Outstanding Recognition in Communication Award at the ICCA Best Marketing Award, and in 2025, BESarawak launched AI.LEGACY, Malaysia’s first intelligent impact management system for the business events sector, developed in partnership with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak.

The numbers speak to the strategy’s traction. Since integrating business events into the PCDS 2030, BESarawak has recorded a 100% success rate in event bidding and pitching. Some 50% of the 541 events secured between 2021 and 2025 are classified as legacy-driven.

In December 2025, the Sarawak government also deepened this commitment still further with the launch of the Business Events Sarawak Alliance (BESA) and the adoption of the Borneo Legacy Declaration, a shared commitment formulated by 36 policymakers and industry leaders from Malaysia and beyond. 

For Jason Tan Chin Foo, Acting CEO of BESarawak, the direction of travel is clear. “Collaboration has always been the driving force behind Sarawak’s success as a business events destination. Through our legacy impact initiatives and comprehensive support for business event organisers, we aim to strengthen the contributions of every industry player and foster meaningful partnerships that deliver lasting legacies for Sarawak, Malaysia and beyond. Our ultimate goal is to position Sarawak as the Legacy Capital of Business Events in Malaysia and Borneo.”

A Long Game, Played Deliberately

What is striking about Sarawak’s approach is its coherence. The expansion of BCCK, the launch of AirBorneo, the alignment of business events strategy with the state’s development priorities… these are not isolated decisions. They are components of a longer-term play, one that is building toward 2028 while keeping an eye on the decade that follows.

The IWA World Water Congress will be both a test and a showcase. Successfully hosting an event of over 10,000 delegates will signal to the global associations community that Kuching has arrived as a serious contender for large-scale international meetings. 

Simon is clear-eyed about what that means in practical terms: “BCCK2 strengthens Sarawak’s longer-term position by giving the destination the ability to host larger meetings with greater confidence and relevance. It also supports Sarawak’s ambition to be a place where international associations can do more than convene.”

Tan concludes: “The expansion of the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching reflects where Sarawak is heading as a business events destination. It will significantly enhance our capabilities to host larger and more complex conventions in response to growing demand. The Sarawak Government places strong importance on business events as a catalyst for sector development, and beyond scale, we are leveraging these platforms to align with our broader economic priorities. Together, this signals the confidence organisers have in Sarawak, and the progress we’ve made in positioning Sarawak as a destination for events that truly make an impact.” 

For more information on Sarawak as a conference destination, visit businesseventssarawak.com