Malaysia will host Asia’s future leading architects in 2014 when they convene for the 16th Asian Congress of Architects (ACA) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center, officials for the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) announced.
The ACA is a major regional congress held every two years and attended by the architectural fraternity, including professionals and students from member countries of the Architects Regional Council of Asia (ARCASIA). While event dates are yet to be announced, the main objective of the congress is to facilitate Asian talents of architecture to travel around the region and gain in-depth exposure in architectural environments of member countries. The congress also coincides with the institution’s annual meetings, which deliberates and presents collective directions of the architectural industry of the region.
“MyCEB is delighted to strengthen Malaysia’s position as Asia’s business events hub,” said Zulkefli Sharif, CEO, MyCEB. “Our win for ACA 2014 is a great announcement to start the year. The congress will stimulate fresh ideas from these aspiring architects through intellectual exchange of knowledge and experience which would then translate to a collective contribution to the progress of the industry.”
The Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) is the professional institute representing architects in Malaysia. Founded in 1920, the institute is an active member of the Architects Regional Council Asia (ARCASIA). ARCASIA was formed as a regional center to address environmental designs and unity among its six founding Asian Member Institutes, including India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia. ARCASIA has grown to 18 members of institutes from Asia, including members from Japan and Korea.
“As a member of ARCASIA, we are honored to host ACA again after 1984 and 2000, which collectively brought in 800 delegates into the country,” said Ar Hj Saifuddin bin Ahmad, president, PAM. “We are hoping to significantly increase the number to 3,000 delegates for ACA 2014 with 40 percent international attendees. This will be the perfect platform to show our members the architectural developments in our country and lift up the standards of our local architectural society.”
The convention of international architects fits with the nation’s Economic Transformation Program roadmap, which aspires to position Malaysia as one of the top five destinations for international meetings in the Asia-Pacific region.
