KUALA LUMPUR, 12 JUNE 2025: Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur continue their upward trajectory in the International Convention & Conference Association (ICCA) 2024 Country & City Rankings report, strengthening their profile as premier business events destinations in the global marketplace.

Malaysia moved up two places to 31st in the global country rankings and 9th in the Asia-Pacific region, while Kuala Lumpur jumped six spots to 26th in the World City Rankings.

In a statement on Thursday, the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (the Centre) said that the rankings were supported by Malaysia hosting 129 international association meetings, with the centre accommodating some of the city’s 78 international association meetings that year.

“To promote the global profile of both Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur, the Centre maintains a strong partnership with the Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) — an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture — regularly collaborating at international trade shows to attract business events to the country.

“In the first half of 2025, the centre was part of MyCEB’s delegation at the Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) 2025 in Melbourne and IMEX in Frankfurt,” it said.

Key international trade shows on MyCEB’s calendar that the centre will also participate in later this year include The Meetings Show in London and the Incentives, Business Travel and Meetings (IBTM) in Barcelona.

The centre also said that as global business environments evolve, so too have delegates' needs and expectations. It believes that flexibility is essential to meeting these demands, with personalisation and technology being key enablers in delivering effective solutions.

Its general manager, John Burke, said the centre’s newly refurbished meeting spaces feature hybrid technology and upgraded audio-visual infrastructure, while a new shared workspace concept has also been launched to support delegates needing a convenient place to catch up on work and life between sessions.

He said that with Kuala Lumpur International Airport, served by 79 airlines and visa-free access for 175 countries, Malaysia provides the great connectivity that global business events demand.

“On top of that, we have a mature supply chain aligned with global standards, wide English proficiency, and a favourable exchange rate.

“Combined with its rich cultural heritage and natural assets, Malaysia is a competitive choice,” said Burke.

The centre is located in the heart of the Kuala Lumpur City Centre precinct, beneath the iconic Petronas Twin Towers. It offers a world-class venue with 34,000 square metres of flexible, purpose-built space with multiple advantages under one roof.