Kind Borneo Launched with Strong Support to Empower NGOs and Strengthen Communities Across Sarawak and Borneo

KUCHING, Malaysia, Oct. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The much-anticipated launch of Kind Borneo, a transformative corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative, marked a resounding success as it convened 17 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and drew over 100 participants committed to strengthening communities across Sarawak and the wider Borneo region.

Organised by MACEOS (Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers) Sarawak Region and Borneo Business Connect, the inaugural event was hosted at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) and strategically co-located with Business Events Sarawak's Legacy 360 Conference. The launch underscored a powerful shared commitment: to amplify the role of NGOs and embed meaningful CSR initiatives into the DNA of the business events industry.

The programme featured engaging NGO pitch presentations in the morning, followed by two high-impact expert panel discussions. "Forging Effective Partnerships – Aligning CSR Vision with NGO Impact", moderated by Kingston Khoo, explored how businesses can effectively collaborate with NGOs to develop sustainable support models. The second panel, "Beyond Grants – A Strategic Blueprint for NGO Success with Government-Linked Foundations", moderated by Dato Jacqueline Fong, provided practical guidance on securing and managing grants, while highlighting inspiring NGO success stories.

Kind Borneo was founded by Borneo Business Connect directors Datuk Dr Gandhi and Gracie Geikie, supported by esteemed advisors Datin Rosemarie Wong Jabu, Dato Jacqueline Fong, and Datin Dona Drury Wee. Together, they bring decades of leadership in community development, philanthropy, and social impact work.

In her remarks, Amelia Roziman, CEO of Business Events Sarawak, highlighted the broader vision:
"Business events have immense potential to be a force for good, leaving behind a legacy that extends far beyond the conference walls. By co-locating Kind Borneo with our Legacy 360 Conference, we are providing a practical platform for our industry to directly engage with and understand the needs of local NGOs. This transforms CSR from a concept into actionable, sustainable, and impactful support for communities."

The event also featured a vibrant NGO Gallery, showcasing 17 associations and community-based enterprises, providing visibility for their initiatives and forging new opportunities for collaboration with business and government stakeholders.

The successful launch of Kind Borneo was made possible through the support of BCCK, Place Borneo, IDA, Team Magnifico, and Catcity Holidays.

With its impactful debut, Kind Borneo is poised to become a long-term movement—one that empowers NGOs, strengthens partnerships, and builds lasting legacies for communities across Borneo.

PR Newswire is the official news distribution partner of Kind Borneo 2025.

** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

Kind Borneo Launched with Strong Support to Empower NGOs and Strengthen Communities Across Sarawak and Borneo

SANYA, China, Jan. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Orange Lion Sports (formerly Alibaba Sports), a global sports event operator, is redefining how major athletic competitions and tourism converge through the coordinated integration of digital platforms and consumer services. The recent 2025 Hainan (Sanya) Marathon, supported by the company, showcased an "event-as-journey" experience that delivered a professionally operated, high-quality racing platform while supporting measurable economic growth for the host city. The marathon saw hotel occupancy in Sanya soar to 92%, with a notable 35% surge in spending at local businesses along the race route, establishing a promising blueprint for the scalable "racecation" model.

"We are committed to creating lasting value for athletes and sports enthusiasts," said Yang Yong, General Manager of Events and Commercialization at event partner Orange Lion Sports. "We activated resources across the Alibaba ecosystem, including Taobao, Fliggy, Alibaba Health, Ant Chain, and Amap, to extend engagement beyond race day. This approach attracted runners from across Hainan, other parts of China, and overseas, while encouraging additional event-related spending."

The provincial tourism and sports department has introduced funding incentives for 2026 sports events to attract national and international competitions. Orange Lion Sports has demonstrated how large-scale events can generate sustained economic activity and benefit local businesses by digitally integrating dining, lodging, transportation, entertainment, and shopping. In partnership with Taobao, the company launched a "Winter Warm-up Festival" that distributed tailored promotional vouchers and offers ahead of the event, designed to connect race participation with consumer engagement by introducing regional culinary specialties such as fermented vinegar hot pot and traditional Li-Miao cuisine to runners across China.

The economic benefits were sustained beyond the race period. According to Fliggy data, hotel bookings in Sanya began rising steadily from late October 2025, when event promotions launched, and remained strong throughout the marathon period. The momentum extended beyond the race, coinciding with the New Year holiday travel period. Data from the Sanya tourism bureau shows that during the 2026 New Year holiday, the city welcomed 650,800 visitor arrivals, with tourism revenue of 1.299 billion yuan (approx. US$186 million) generated, illustrating the role of the "racecation" model in supporting tourism demand.

In the future, Orange Lion Sports will harness AI technology to enhance sports events and promote fitness for all, in line with their assertion at CES in 2017: AI is the future of sports development.

** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

Harnessing the Power of Sports: Orange Lion Sports Leads the Way in Driving the Emerging Trend of "Racecation"