Upclose with Datuk Dr M Gandhi
President of Malaysian Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS)
Datuk Dr M Gandhi, who considers himself at that wonderful age where experience meets enthusiasm, believes he has collected a few stories over the years to share. Described by others as a wise and humble man who is well respected not only in the business events (BE) industry but also in the other diverse fields he is involved in as Bumiati Holding Sdn Bhd Founder and Chairman.
Passionate about promoting kindness and using BE as a tool, he founded the concept of Kind Malaysia, an event that brings corporates and civil society for a greater good, he has been encouraging MACEOS members to embed this concept within their conventions and exhibitions following his appointment as the association’s President effective May 27, 2024.
How have your past experiences of operating major business events (BE) overseas equipped you with your current responsibilities?
Over the last 25 years, I had the opportunity to operate and manage BE, including trade exhibitions throughout Asia and the Pacific region. My experience extended to the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) region as well as the larger economies such as India and China. These experiences have equipped me to take a strategic and longer-term view. I intend to bring the knowledge I have gained into developing Malaysia’s BE industry as an integral component of the larger regional and international ecosystem.
Please share with us your plans with our ASEAN neighbours on promoting BE in the region.
When attracting global business to each ASEAN member, there is a need to leverage each other’s strengths. While we do compete for some businesses, in a globally competitive business environment, I feel that by enlarging the businesses attracted to the region as a whole will make it more sustainable.
A unique and immediate area of cooperation I envision is the collaboration with the three sub-regions bordering Malaysia. They are namely the BIMP-ASEAN sub-region comprising Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines that borders Sabah and Sarawak, the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMTGT) that borders the northern states of Peninsular Malaysia, especially Penang, Kedah and northern Perak while in the south, the Indonesia-Malaysia-Singapore (IMS) GT borders Johor and Melaka.
Under your leadership, you partnered with the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) during the latter’s annual Malaysia Business Events Week 2024 (MBEW24) to launch the maiden EVENTXPO. Did it meet your targets at the end of this three-day event?
We are delighted that our collaboration with MyCEB exceeded our expectations. We recorded 3,100 professional attendees from August 19-21, 2024. In addition to the 500 B2B meetings, onsite meetings, networking and interactions among the attendees, both the speakers and exhibitors created an engaging atmosphere, thus strengthening the domestic BE ecosystem.
You mentioned about taking MACEOS to the next level in a structured manner. Would you care to elaborate on that?
I am blessed with a motivated, able and experienced executive committee (Exco) that was voted in together with me at the recent MACEOS annual general meeting. I believe the diverse and vast business experience among the Exco members shall be more effective if the organisational structure and business plans are structured in line with MACEOS Strategic Roadmap 2020-2030.
Under MACEOS Strategic Roadmap 2030, the association has moved beyond the recovery stage of the COVID-19 pandemic to economic development and nation building. Digital transformation has been cited as one of the key factors to the growth of BE industry. What are some of these transformation?
Our industry has been very welcoming to the employment of technology in improving the business efficiency and customer service. However, the next stage is utilising and improving data collection and analytics while transforming this into true value. This would entail industrywide investment, collaboration and learning. Cybersecurity concerns, data protection processes and upskilling of our human capital shall be key to this digital transformations.
Another contributing factor is human capital. What has been done to upscale the skills of our human resources?
We have a dedicated Vice President for Education who is spearheading and rolling out a structured education programme that is in line with the growth of our BE industry.
Digital transformation, international certifications, safety skills and business acumen are some of the programmes that are being rolled out as part of our capacity building objectives.
How many members does MACEOS have currently? Any plans to grow its membership, especially beyond the country’s central region.
MACEOS currently has 180 corporate members representing the entire ecosystem. This includes professional convention organisers (PCOs), professional exhibition organisers (PEOs), venues, convention hotels, business events suppliers, state convention bureaus and other stakeholders such as educational institutions. Our intention is to increase the membership to 300 within the next several years and strengthen the chapters in East Malaysia as well as the northern and southern regions
How can BE contribute to the growth of the tourism and hospitality industry in Malaysia?
BE attract high value travellers, who stay longer, spend more and contribute to the economy. Many of the BE attendees are businessmen and professionals who come to Malaysia for the first time due to the events organised by our members. These attendees are potential investors who build our economy.
There have been instances of BE organised in Malaysia which failed due to poor publicity resulting in low visitors to the exhibitions and poor attendance at the conferences. What can be done to prevent this?
I must emphasise that Malaysia hosts some of the world’s and region’s leading events. Lead time and proper market research prior to the launch of BE ensure professionalism. MACEOS training and educational programmes are there to give the needed upskilling. We must adopt a comprehensive and strategic marketing approach.
This includes integrating digital, social and traditional media, forming industry partnerships, and starting promotions early. Optimise your event’s online presence and use data analytics to refine strategies. Additionally, targeted outreach and early bird incentives will drive engagement and ensure a successful event.
What can be done to address the lack of large event venues in Malaysia?
Purpose-built exhibition and convention centres must be viewed as critical infrastructure for nation building. These venues require long-term planning on a multifaceted approach. Investing in the expansion and upgrading of existing venues is crucial to better accommodate major events.Additionally, fostering public-private partnerships can facilitate the construction of new, cutting-edge facilities.
Expanding venue development to include regional areas can alleviate congestion in major cities and broaden access. By enhancing our infrastructure and ensuring our facilities meet international standards, we can position Malaysia as a leading destination for large- scale events and attract global gatherings.
What are other challenges faced by the BE industry and how do you hope to resolve them?
The industry is experiencing robust growth overall. The challenges we currently encounter involve ensuring that our human resources remain consistently skilled and competent as well as establishing a continuous flow of resources equipped with training for upcoming expansion and new technologies.In a rapidly expanding environment, it can be easy to overlook long-term requirements such as infrastructure planning and the promotion of appropriate policies, along with fostering partnerships with neighbouring ASEAN countries and the significant economies of India and China.
To address these issues, MACEOS has initiated an advocacy programme to keep authorities informed about the growth trajectory of our sector, its requirements and the national advantages it presents.
MACEOS is also committed to maintaining ongoing collaboration and knowledge exchange with our ASEAN counterparts to facilitate regional progress.
What are the latest developments on the upgrading of the BE industry standards, especially with the Ministry of International Trade and Industry’s Department of Standards Malaysia (JSM)?
The upgrade of our industry standards in Malaysia is making significant strides. MyCEB, in partnership with JSM and MACEOS, is developing new Malaysian Standards for PCOs, PEOs and event venues. These standards emphasize environmental, social and governance compliance, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Recent developments include draft guidelines presented during MBEW, which outline minimum requirements for convention and exhibition centres, as well as tiered criteria for PCOs and PEOs.
The guidelines, open for feedback until October 14, 2024, are expected to be finalised next year. This initiative aims to elevate professionalism, attract international events besides ensuring our venues and service providers meet rigorous benchmarks.
On MACEOS’ sustainability efforts to reduce carbon emission, how do you reconcile with the increasing numbers of physical events being hosted post- pandemic?
This requires a balanced approach. We are committed to reducing carbon emissions by implementing a range of strategies, including promoting energy-efficient practices, encouraging the use of sustainable materials and integrating green technologies in our events.
Additionally, we are working with venue partners and suppliers to ensure that sustainability is a core consideration in their operations.
By prioritising eco-friendly practices and fostering a culture of environmental responsibility, we aim to mitigate the impact of increased physical events and continue advancing our commitment to sustainability.