We were in Kuala Lumpur, commonly known as KL, sitting in an Irish pub (for a change!) when we spotted a copy of "The Expat" magazine. Having expat-related business ventures ourselves, although not Malaysia-based, naturally we were interested to read this glossy magazine - it turned out to be an excellent publication - and discovered that there was to be an Expat Expo in the nearby Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) on 29 and 30 September 2007. (This year's event will be on 20 and 21 September 2008.) Well, we were in KL on holiday, had no business materials with us, and no smart clothes. But we decided to go and have a look anyway, as we're always interested in expat-related things. It was well worth while.
This was the first Expat Expo organised by "The Expat", but the general consensus among the attendees seemed to be that they hoped it would become an annual event. Certainly if it were to become one, we would make the effort to go to the next one. And we would be much better prepared! We have since found out that, as a result of the success of this first Expo, "The Expat" is indeed planning one for next year.
The Expo was held in KLCC Exhibition Hall 4 from 10 am - 8pm on the two weekend days. On entering the Expo (free entry) every visitor was given a large fabric bag containing goodies such as a magazine, notebook and pen. The bag was also very handy for collecting the various brochures from the exhibitors. There were lots of pavilions, booths, and stands promoting products and services to expats and would-be expats.
Arts & Crafts
Banking, Investment, and Business Services
Furnishings and Domestic Products
Health and Beauty
Hotels and Tourism
MM2H (Malaysia My Second Home)
Property
Publishing
Schools
Other - this included things like classic cars, jewellery, photography, yachting-related products, and so on.
The place was buzzing while we were there (I read later that over 4,000 people had attended) and I got the impression that people were enjoying the chance to network, do business, and to learn about opportunities for expats in Malaysia.
So why would anyone want to visit such an event? Well, the Malaysian government has been actively promoting their MM2H programme. Unlike some of the neighbouring countries, like Thailand for example, which make it difficult for foreigners to stay long-term by setting so many traps of red-tape, the Malaysian government positively encourages people to make Malaysia their second home. Providing a foreigner meets certain qualifications, there's a ten-year visa available. For more info about MM2H, and the organisers of the Expo, see: http://www.mm2h.com .
In addition to the booths, there were lots of other things going on:
There was a series of seminars on various topics such as driving, diving, MM2H, tropical diseases, and property. There were classic and sports cars to admire - even if you can't afford them!
Every visitor was invited to have a free foot spa and massage. There were other fun activities too, such as having your hands painted with henna patterns (a traditional art), crystal healing, and a caricaturist. We gave these a miss but there were plenty of takers.
There were wine tastings. Some rather nice wine too. We ended up buying a couple of bottles.
There was a café inside especially for the Expat Expo, where you could "eat and meet". (There was also a nice café-restaurant, unrelated to the Expo, a few yards away from the conference centre where you could sit and have a smoke in the sun, as well as eat and drink of course.)
We were each given a free ticket for the prize draw, which had lots of good prizes from hotel stays to an expensive Persian carpet. (We didn't win anything. Maybe next year...)
"The Expat" has always promoted local artists by featuring their paintings on their magazine covers. There was an art gallery with some of these original paintings - and the opportunity to buy them too. The magazine also had its own dedicated pavilion right in the middle of the hall where people could meet the team and ask questions or just chat. They were giving away free copies of the magazine there too, so we were able to take a couple of them home with us.
There was also a booth for various British, American, and Australian expat associations in KL. And, of course, a booth for MM2H. This is a really important subject for anyone wanting to move to Malaysia. Andy Davison is the expert on this (he's also the editor of "The Expat", among other things). We didn't have a chance to talk to him as he was invariably surrounded by eager Expo visitors.
As you can see, there was a lot going on at the Expo. All in all, there were 11 pavilions, 60 booths, and 13 stands, in addition to the lecture theatre where the seminars were held.
In conclusion, if you are an expat in Malaysia, or interested in becoming one, this is THE event of the year. Don't miss it!
For more info, or if you wish to register for next year's event you can visit their website:
www.expatexpo.com.my
And you can find out more about "The Expat" at their website too:
http://www.expatkl.com
GETTING THERE
The KLCC is located very close to the Petronas Towers, at the western end of the Kuala Lumpur City Centre Park (just off Jalan Pinang). It has its own stop on the Rail Transit system (Kelana Jaya line). If you're arriving by car, parking is available.
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Contributor's Note
I originally wrote this for my website after visiting the Expat Expo last year.
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