ASIA – The Malaysian government has revealed ambitions to expand its number of exhibition centres.
International trade and industry minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said the nation needed to improve its capacity to attract world-class events on Tuesday during the joint launch of the China-ASEAN Expo 2011.
“There is demand, if you talk to KLCC [Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre] and PWTC [Putra World Trade Centre]. Demand created can be supply-driven. If you can create supply, you can promote and create demand," he said.
"To host world-class events, we need to have international centres. Exhibition is big business. We are catching up and we can do more.”
Meanwhile, the RM628 million (US$185m) Matrade centre in Kuala Lumpur will be eight times the size of the KLCC, according to government officials.
The venue, being developed by the Naza Group, will offer three floors of exhibition space with 11 large-sized exhibition halls, a multi-purpose hall, meeting and conference rooms when it is completed in 2014.
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