The Ipoh International Congress Center (IICC) is projected to draw more business travelers to the city and its resident's advantage from next month.

Property developer Bond Holdings Sdn Bhd as the manager, the Ipoh City Council (MBI) as the landowner, and construction firm Sycal Bhd today sealed a collaboration agreement for the management of the 28,000 sq ft center.

The key aim of the collaboration was to efficiently handle IICC, including banquet facilities for annual dinners, corporate talk, trade shows, community bazaars, workshop conferences, and other events, said Ipoh Mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin.

"With its strategic location and state-of-the-art facilities, the centre will give a rebranding for the city of Ipoh," he said at the collaboration agreement ceremony.

Signing on behalf of Bond Holdings was its chief executive officer Ong Teng Boon while Sycal Bhd was represented by managing director Datuk Seow Yong Chin. The ceremony was witnessed by Menteri Besar Datuk Saarani Mohamad.

The IICC will consist of a 0.56-hectare convention centre, a 0.34-hectare five-star hotel block and a 0.38-hectare serviced apartment. 

Rumaizi said Bond Holdings will manage the Bond Suites next to the IICC to provide the professionals with the full and ideal workspace.

Ong said Bond Holdings will work in full with MBI to build a safer, greener, and more modern town for residents.

In his speech, Saarani said that the state government will always welcome strategic cooperation from local authorities and all stakeholders, including government agencies, the private sector, NGOs, and the public.

"This is important as a local authority like the Ipoh City Council cannot operate in silo as it becomes increasingly challenging to fulfill its responsibilities in developing a sustainable and resilient city,” he said.

The IICC not only will become a significant landmark in Ipoh, but also an Information and Career Growth Hub with a Conference Center and fully-equipped modern working space.

"I hope that MBI will continue to explore new opportunities through such strategic collaborations to enable Ipoh to become a city with international status in terms of investments, job opportunities, sustainable physical developments, and sophisticated infrastructures," he said.