Malaysia has expanded its position as a venue destination for international congresses. This is shown by the latest ICCA GlobeWatch Country & City Rankings 2025 from the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA). Malaysia reached 32nd place out of 142 qualified countries, while Kuala Lumpur ranks 29th worldwide with 73 qualifying meetings.
ICCA Rankings as Vote of Confidence
The ICCA GlobeWatch Rankings are regarded as an important benchmark for a destination’s ability to attract recurring international association conferences. Robert Hatton-Jones, Deputy General Manager of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, sees the ranking as a vote of confidence: „The ICCA rankings are an important endorsement of Malaysia’s ability to deliver world-class international association meetings that create lasting value beyond the event itself. Every congress brings together global experts, researchers, policymakers and industry leaders, creating opportunities for knowledge exchange, collaboration and economic growth.“
Strong 2025 Performance and Positive Outlook
In 2025, the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre welcomed 756,721 delegates, including 59,013 international guests. The economic impact is estimated at RM1.5 billion. The convention centre hosted 16 ICCA-qualified international association conferences, directly contributing to Kuala Lumpur’s ranking.
For 2026, the Centre has already confirmed 19 international association conferences, expected to welcome more than 22,600 delegates and generate RM60 million in economic impact. Planned events include the International Congress of the Asia Pacific Society of Infection Control (APSIC) 2026, the Congress of the World Union of Wound Healing Societies (WUWHS) 2026, the SPE/ICoTA Asia Pacific Well Intervention and P&A Conference and Exhibition 2026, and the 16th Asian & Oceania Epilepsy Congress 2026.
Expansion of Exhibition Portfolio
The Convention Centre is also expanding Malaysia’s international exhibition offering. In 2026, several first-in-Malaysia exhibitions took place, including Malaysia Brand Day 2026, the Remarkable Shandong Agricultural Trade (Malaysia) Expo 2026, and the Malaysia International Textile & Tourism Expo 2026. More than 15 international association conferences have already been secured for 2027.
Sustainability and Certifications
The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre holds comprehensive certifications, including ISO 9001 (Quality Management), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management), ISO 20121 (Event Sustainability Management) and EarthCheck Gold. As the first convention centre in Asia, it received AIPC Gold Certification. The Centre tracks its monthly performance in areas such as greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption and waste reduction.
