THE INAUGURAL BORNEO WORLD MUSIC EXPO

Borneo World Music Expo
Malaysia Stand @ WOMEX 2012
Leaflet - Borneo World Music Expo
Rainforest World Music Festival
Sarawak Where Adventure Lives
MyCEB
Sarawak Tourism Board

Sarawak, the state in Malaysian Borneo, where the iconic Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF), is held annually, will once again play host to another exciting event, the Borneo World Music Expo.

The inaugural Borneo World Music Expo will be held on the 24 to 26 June 2013 in the city of Kuching, Sarawak, eastern state of Malaysia. Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) has identified that in order to position Sarawak as a potential destination for art, culture and music. The event is to coincide with RWMF as well as to enhance the prestigious musical event (RWMF) itself that entering its 16th edition by next year. “This new event will grow the Meeting & Exhibition market segments related to music through an exposition to be named as the Borneo World Music Expo” says Dato’ Rashid Khan, CEO of Sarawak Tourism Board. “It is the ambition of the Board to grow this event into a world recognised annual exposition for the professionals and trade visitors within the international music scene” he reiterated.

Scheduled to be held a week before the RWMF every year, the expo will integrate a trade fair, musical showcases, conferences, exhibitions and networking sessions which would promote the culture and music. It is specifically designed to expose Asian and ethnic musicians to the international market.

The anticipated expo is supported by Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), an agency established by the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia to further strengthen and position Malaysia as a major events hub for the region. According to its General Manager, Tony Nagamaiah, “the Borneo World Music Expo is a new initiative in addition to the already successful Rainforest World Music Festival. The expo would be the first of its kind to be organized in South East Asia, a melting pot of various different cultures and traditions brought together through music which is to be showcased at the expo.”

“The Borneo World Music Expo is set to attract exhibitors and delegates from all over Asia Pacific and set a platform in terms of business-to-business live music and entertainment scene. In Malaysia we have a clear and ambitious event strategy and huge experience in organizing major international music festivals such as Penang World Music Festival, Borneo Jazz, Sunset Music Fest @ the tip of Borneo and Future Music Festival Asia. We now look forward to contributing to the 2013 Borneo World Music Expo and ensuring its success," he further added.

Sarawak Tourism Board has appointed Mr Gerald Seligman as the consultant for the Borneo World Music Expo. Mr Seligman is an international music industry professional with over 25 years of experience in both major and independent music and music events companies. He is the President of Caravan Arts Consultancy from which he collaborates and/or consults with events, companies, governmental and non-governmental organizations throughout the world. Until November of 2009, Gerald was General Director of WOMEX, the largest World Music Expo. He was also co-founder and the first chairman of Freemuse, the human rights organization based in Copenhagen, Denmark. He founded and ran EMI Hemisphere, the company's premier world music label, was head of EMI's international sector for Strategic Marketing and has produced or compiled over 100 releases, including one with a Grammy nomination.

Alongside this inaugural event, Sarawak Tourism Board will continue to organize another notable fringe event of the RWMF, which is the Rainforest Waterfront Fest. This is a Talent Search contest and is opened to anyone eligible internationally. The finals will be held on the weekend before the RWMF and the winner will be given the honour to share the stage with international renowned artists at the Rainforest World Music Festival. Interested parties are most welcome to participate.

More information on this inaugural and other event will be released through its website, www.borneomex.com and each music festival’s websites at www.rwmf.net or www.jazzborneo.com. Drop by at our booth 6.69 & 6.70 @ WOMEX 2012 for more information.

The adventure in Borneo is here to stay. So be a part of it!.

article posted by:Gustino Basuan, Malaysia Major Events