KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 17 — The green technologies and eco-solutions trade event organised recently by the Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Ministry (MESTECC) has achieved almost RM6 billion in business leads and surpassed all targets, said its minister Yeo Bee Yin.
The 10th International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition & Conference Malaysia (IGEM 2019), which took place in Kuala Lumpur from Oct 9 to 11, also attracted 376 exhibitors and 40,531 visitors from 43 countries, she said.
Hence the event exceeded the targets of RM2.8 billion in business leads, 300 exhibitor booths and 35,000 visitors from across 35 countries despite the softening global economic scenario, demonstrating the continuing promise of the green economy, Yeo said.
“This (success) not only signifies our strength at next year’s event but also all our passion and commitment to delivering on our climate action agenda in a sustainable economic environment,” the minister said in a speech prepared for a post-IGEM 2019 press conference here today.
The text of her speech was read out by Malaysian Green Technology Corporation (GreenTech Malaysia) chief executive officer Shamsul Bahar Mohd Nor. GreenTech Malaysia, an agency under the purview of MESTECC, is the co-organiser of IGEM.
The IGEM 2019 investment leads included RM5.8 billion potential investments from 82 projects recorded through the Malaysian Investment Development Authority’s participation and RM180 million potential export through the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation’s International Sourcing Program during IGEM 2019.
On next year’s IGEM, Yeo said the ministry is targeting RM3.4 billion in business leads, 420 exhibitors and 42,000 visitors from 42 countries.
She said IGEM 2020, scheduled for Oct 7 to 9 next year, will have the theme Energising Sustainability, as it captures Malaysia’s commitment to balance socio-economic progress with the environmental concerns to ensure a secure and sustainable future for the people.
“Over time, we have seen that one constant factor motivating climate action has been the overarching theme of sustainability.
“We want to encourage through a fresh reminder on the concept, that economic sustainability cannot be achieved if our climate action targets are not productively woven into our business strategies, policy making processes and corporate responsibility programmes,” she said.
An unprecedented 61 organisations have already pledged their participation in IGEM 2020.
— BERNAMA