Kuching To Host Major International Handicraft Expo in 2023

Kuching, Sarawak will host ASIACRAFT 2023 — the Premier International Arts, Handicrafts and Culture Exhibition and Conference — next year from 12 to 14 September at the Borneo Convention Centre, Sarawak.

This was announced at the Soft Launch Ceremony by The Honourable Datuk Snowdan Lawan, Deputy Minister of Creative Industry and Performing Arts at the launch and press conference today.

With Kuching’s designation as a World Craft City by the World Craft Council, ASIACRAFT 2023 Expo and Conference is expected to attract over 230 exhibitors and 5,000 trade buyers to highlight Sarawak’s rich heritage of traditional crafts, arts and housewares and promote its products in the international markets.

According to market research firm ResearchandMarkets.com, the global handicrafts market size reached US$ 680 Billion in 2021 and expects the market to grow by 10.4% to reach US$ 1,252 Billion by 2027. It is hoped that the Expo will help Sarawak — and Malaysia as a whole — gain a bigger slice of this market.

The event organiser, AMB Tarsus Events Group — which is part of the London-based Tarsus Group — aims to position ASIACRAFT Expo as an annual B2B event where sellers can meet key buyers from international stores, importers, distributors and retail outlets. It will focus on bringing in buyers representing the corporate sector looking for gift ideas. The Expo will also serve as a marketing platform for local and regional manufacturers and suppliers to explore new markets, build brand awareness, meet key buyers and get updated on new trends and developments.

According to Sarawak’s Deputy Minister of Creative Industry and Performing, The Honourable Datuk Snowdan Lawan, “the arts and handicraft industry plays a crucial role in our economy as it employs thousands of Sarawakians mainly in SMEs and home-based industries. Furthermore, it is part of the Sarawak Government’s Post Covid-19 Development Strategy to preserve heritage and culture, and conserve biodiversity hence, this is an excellent event to achieve governmental objectives and help Sarawak’s arts and crafts communities interact with influential buyers and collaborators.”

Themed: “Transformation of the Handicraft Industry in the Digital Economy”, the Expo will introduce digital innovations in product designs and online marketing platforms that can be adopted by SMEs and home-based industries. ASIACRAFT 2023 Expo will include an international conference, the Best-at-Show Awards, live demonstrations, business matching sessions and industry talks.

ASIACRAFT 2023 Expo is a homegrown business event, which is one of the core areas to rebuild the industry since the pandemic. “The strategy to support homegrown events such as ASIACRAFT 2023 is effective at helping Sarawak’s business events industry recover,” said BESarawak’s CEO, Amelia Roziman. “The Expo is a high-value event where business events are supporting the growth of other sectors such as arts, crafts, and retail. This is how the business events sector is collaborating with others to support growth and productivity.”

Besides the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, AMB Tarsus Events Group will work closely with the Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment Sarawak, Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Business Events Sarawak and other related associations and agencies including the Sarawak Crafts Council and Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation. An Advisory Committee will be formed to ensure that key stakeholders are involved and derive real benefits from the staging of this major event.

AMB Tarsus Events Group’s Chairman, Tan Sri Dato' Sri Dr Hj. Mohd Nasir Bin Mohd Ashraf stated that the Expo is “an excellent example of a successful public-private sector partnership where the private sector finance and operate the Expo with support and direction from the Government.”

ASIACRAFT 2023 will open its doors for business and trade visitors on day 1 and will open the show to the public on the last 2 days of the Expo for those looking to make purchases or to simply appreciate the artistic and creative works of artisans.