KOTA KINABALU  Sabah can grow to become a MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) hub for East Asia, including China, Sabah International Expo 2008 (SIE2008) organising chairman Datuk Wong Khen Thau said today.

He said with Malaysia becoming one of the preferred venues for MICE, which has been developed as a major tourism product, and the number of tourist arrivals in Sabah increasing annually, conditions were ideal for the state to become a popular MICE destination.

"Since 2000, the SIE has become grander and more recognised. This years SIE has tripled in the number of booths and there is still potential for expansion," Wong said at the event's opening here.

"Today, with 380 booths and exhibitors from over 22 countries participating, SIE2008 has placed Kota Kinabalu second only to Kuala Lumpur in terms of exposition scale," he said.

"Therefore, we hope that the state government will expedite the implementation of a plan to develop the Kinabalu International Convention Centre where SIE may find a permanent home," he added.

Wong, who is also the Federation of Sabah Manufacturers president, said SIE was an important vehicle in promoting Sabah internationally.

He said Sabah's investment attractions were unique and therefore, the state could not rely solely on the International Trade and Industry Ministry to promote its potential to the world.

"The major thrusts of SIE have always been agriculture, manufacturing and tourism as Sabah is a large state. This is in line with the state government's economic development focus," he added.

Meanwhile, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said the SIE was important for the state as it continued to restructure and diversify its economy from one that dependent on primary exports to being technology- and knowledge-driven.

"Private sector efforts such as event like SIE become even more important when we examine the business prospects and amount of work that Sabah still needs to put in to attain the goals and objectives of the Sabah Development Corridor from 2008 to 2025," he said.

Bernama