THE International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) 2020 World Landscape Architects Summit will be held in Penang!
The event, to be jointly organised by IFLA and the Institute of Landscape Architects Malaysia (ILAM), is scheduled to be held from Aug 13 to 15 in 2020.
ILAM president Assoc Prof Dr Suhardi Maulan said they expected some 1,500 delegates worldwide taking part in the conference.
“Malaysia hosted the world summit once in Kuala Lumpur, back in 2007.
“After 13 years, Malaysia has the opportunity to host the world summit again and this time it will be held in Penang.
“Penang is indeed a unique place to be. The state is famous for its food and heritage, and is the melting pot of cultures and festivals,” he said during a courtesy visit on Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow today.
He said that the IFLA 2020, themed ‘Future Tense’, would be the platform for delegates to share issues, ideas and inspiration to ensure that landscape architects are ready to face the requirements of the society, environment and urban living for the next 10 years.
“We would also like to align the programmes with the Penang 2030 vision. We are looking into ways to meet the four initiatives of the Penang 2030,” he added.
Chow said that the state looked forward to the summit taking place in 2020.
“We are open to assist the organisers,” he said.
Also present were Penang Tourism Development, Heritage, Culture and Arts Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin, Penanti assemblyman Dr Norlela Ariffin and Penang Convention and Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) chief executive officer Ashwin Gunasekeran.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Alissala Thian