KOTA KINABALU: The First Borneo International Congress for Business, Education, Economics and Management (BICBEEM 2026) will bring academics, researchers, industry practitioners and policymakers together to explore how research can support Sabah’s development.
The two-day congress, running from 7 to 8 October, is jointly organised by North Borneo University College (NBUC) and the Institute of Government and People’s Cooperation (IKRAR), with strategic partners Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Universiti Putra Malaysia and the Universiti Borneo Consortium.
Organising chairman Professor Dato’ Seri Dr Azimuddin Bahari, Vice-Chancellor of North Borneo University, said the congress aims to strengthen links between government, academia and industry.
“Our aim is to develop ideas, expertise and research findings that can support development planning and the formulation and implementation of government policies including policies that can have a direct, positive impact on the people of Sabah,” he said.
The programme includes five keynote addresses and two forums. Their discussions will be collated and critically analysed to generate recommendations and identify research that addresses practical needs.
Professor Azimuddin said the congress would focus on applied research, rather than academic research alone, and that its findings would be submitted to the Government.
More than 60 researchers from Malaysia and overseas, including China, Indonesia and Brunei, are expected to present their work during the congress. The research is intended to inform practical, effective and economical policies and strategies aligned with the Sabah Maju Jaya roadmap, including SMJ 2.0 for 2026 to 2030.
The organisers also welcomed the attendance of Datuk Caesar Mandela Malakun, representing Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor, who was invited to officially open the congress.
“If the studies demonstrate that BICBEEM can help the Government formulate policies and make sound decisions for Sabah’s development, we hope to continue this initiative in the years ahead,” Professor Azimuddin said.
Also present during the event was the State Assemblyman of Paginatan Datuk Rusdin Riman, Datuk Azrul Ibrahim, Chief Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, Dr Zainuddin Sabu Director of IKRAR and attendees from the universities concerned, participants and delegations for of BICBEEM 2026.-BNN
