Malaysia is cementing its position as a destination where the world’s experts, innovators and decision-makers choose to gather, collaborate and exchange ideas. This growing global confidence was reflected in the newly released International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) GlobeWatch Country & City Rankings 2025, which placed Malaysia 32nd out of 142 ICCA-qualified international association meetings globally, while Kuala Lumpur ranked 29th place worldwide with 73 qualifying meetings.
Widely regarded as one of the business events industry’s most respected global benchmarks, the ICCA GlobeWatch Rankings measure a destination’s ability to consistently attract recurring international association meetings. Malaysia’s standing signals more than statistical progress – it reflects growing international trust in the country’s capacity to host high-value congresses that drive knowledge exchange, investment and innovation across sectors. As international conferences increasingly gravitate toward destinations that can combine world-class infrastructure with strong institutional support, Malaysia’s showing in the rankings reinforces its credentials as a serious contender on the global stage.
Central to this momentum is the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (the Centre), Malaysia’s premier purpose-built convention venue. Robert Hatton-Jones, Deputy General Manager of the Centre, said the rankings reflect growing international trust in Malaysia’s ability to deliver on the world stage.
“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. We are proud to contribute towards strengthening Kuala Lumpur’s position as a preferred destination for international meetings.”
In 2025, the Centre welcomed 756,721 delegates, including 59,013 international delegates, generating an estimated RM1.5 billion in economic impact for the country. It also hosted 16 ICCA-qualified international association conferences, directly contributing to Kuala Lumpur’s strong showing in the latest rankings.
Building on this momentum, the Centre has confirmed 19 international association conferences for 2026, which are expected to welcome more than 22,600 delegates and generate RM60 million in economic impact. Key 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.
The Centre has also continued to expand Malaysia’s international exhibition portfolio by hosting several first-in-Malaysia exhibitions, including Malaysia Brand Day 2026, the Remarkable Shandong Agricultural Trade (Malaysia) Expo 2026, and the Malaysia International Textile & Tourism Expo 2026, further reinforcing Kuala Lumpur’s position as a regional hub for business events and exhibitions.
Looking further ahead, the Centre has already secured more than 15 international association conferences for 2027, underscoring sustained confidence among global meeting organisers in Kuala Lumpur as a long-term host destination.
Robert added that the latest ICCA rankings serve as testament for the industry to keep building on this momentum.
“Competition among international business events destinations continues to intensify, making collaboration and continuous innovation more important than ever. Together with our industry partners, we remain committed to delivering exceptional experiences that attract high-value international events while creating meaningful economic and social benefits for Malaysia.”
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