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.
Tags: ASIACRAFT 2023, Kuching, Sarawak
