While the economic benefits of large-scale international meetings are obvious, it is more important that such association events cultivate long-term legacies for host destinations.
This topic was discussed on a panel entitled Unlocking Growth Opportunities for Associations through International Events, at the inaugural Association MICE Symposium – part of the Singapore MICE Forum – earlier this morning.
Roy Chan, senior consultant and former director of the National Skin Centre, and president of the 25th World Congress of Dermatology (WCD), shared how WCD – held in Singapore in July 2023 – drew over 12,000 delegates and left a substantial financial legacy. This enabled the 200-member host society to fund new projects that “benefit the local, regional specialist, and also the population” by increasing access to dermatological care, including scholarships.
Held once every four years, the “Olympics of dermatology” brought together the top minds in the field, fostering an environment for scientific discourse and collaboration. The sheer scale of the scientific programme, with 26 parallel tracks, also helped to “put Singapore on the map”.
Similarly, Sajeesh Babu, chairman of the International Committee for NDT (non-destructive testing) and president of the Non-Destructive Testing Society (Singapore), highlighted how the the World Conference on NDT for 2032 could offer his niche field, which ensures safety across various industries from aviation to construction.
He said: “We do a lot of research behind the scenes, and this will help our researchers contribute to the world stage. At the same time, we bring in the manufacturers from different parts of the world showcase the technology for our applications.”
This large-scale conference, which occurs only once every four or eight years, offer a significant “financial benefit for the association itself”, providing operational funding to the local society for at least a decade, Babu noted. He added that the money would be channelled back into certification for young engineers.
Louise Chua, executive director of the Singapore Contractors Association Limited (SCAL), also shared why the association bid for the International Federation of Asian and Western Pacific Contractors Associations in April 2025.
“(The motivation was to) foster the practical collaborations among member countries on common industry challenges, open doors for collaboration business opportunities, and also have the opportunity to showcase Singapore’s innovative construction capabilities, particularly its housing programme,” she explained.
Mirroring the other panellists’ focus on building up the next generation, SCAL’s Young Leader’s Programme provides regional exposure “unique to the the construction sector” for emerging professionals, designed to secure the industry’s future.
