WCIT expected to rake in RM500m for Malaysia
NEW YORK: Malaysia's hosting of the 16th World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT 2008) is expected to bring in about RM500mil for the country.
This was the projected economic impact in the short term as a result of trade deals, hotel stay, and food and beverage consumption, among others, said Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Kong Cho Ha.
"The estimate is based on the experiences of past host cities such as Taipei and Adelaide," he said.
The congress, often known as the Olympics of the ICT World, will be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from May 18 to 22 next year.
Kong said it would be the ministry's biggest IT undertaking so far.
"Our winning the rights to host the congress is by itself recognition that Malaysia has made it on the global IT map," said Kong, who was here to attend the United Nations' Global Alliance for ICT and Development (UNGAID) meeting. He also met with several US firms to promote WCIT 2008 to them.
Supported by the ministry, the biennial WCIT congress is expected to be attended by 2,000 delegates from about 80 countries.
"Sponsorship of the event, through various means, is targeted to reach RM30mil in value," Kong said.
Its highlight is the business forum in which Microsoft chairman and co-founder Bill Gates, former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan and Dell’s chief information officer Stephen F. Schuckenbrock are confirmed speakers.
Kong also said that Malaysia had just been confirmed as the host of a UN Global Alliance for ICT for Development-initiated meeting which would be attended by science and technology ministers throughout the world.
"These ministers will have a dialogue with industry leaders, NGOs and academicians on ways to ensure ICT for development policies are effectively implemented," he said.
The meeting will be held on the sideline of the WCIT 2008, in which CNBC is the international broadcast partner.
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