Expo organisers plan to put Melaka on the map as a fashion destination

Leong (fifth from right) and other dignitaries at the Cohex launching at The Sail Melaka.

MELAKA: Efforts are underway to make fashion tourism one of the crucial elements to boost Visit Melaka Year 2024 (TMM 2024) with the recently held City of Hope Exposition (Cohex).

Cohex is dedicated to highlighting Melaka as a prime destination for a centre for fashion while leveraging the historic city's uniquely rich heritage and culture.

The event organised by Sheng Tai International was held at the Sail Melaka here and witnessed the support from state tourism stakeholders with the presence of the state director of the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, Jay Yeow, as well as the general manager of Tourism Melaka, Sa’ari Basiron.

Founder and Chairman of Sheng Tai International, Datuk Leong Sir Ley, said Cohex is held to announce the slew of exciting events that were planned for next year, including another slot for the Japanese Anime Concert, The Straits Gala, K-pop concerts, and seasonal festivals, among others at City of Hope.

"City of Hope is expected to transform Melaka's economy and solidify the state's position as a robust and booming fashion metropolis in the region," she said on Monday (Dec 4).

Leong said she was also honoured to receive Tourism Malaysia’s full support in promoting her brainchild visionary project 'City of Hope', and she will make every effort to ensure the success of promoting Malaysia as the preferred haute couture destination.

She said Sheng Tai International is already relentlessly focused on property tourism, which attracts an average of 500 visitors to the state monthly.

Leong said has also further strengthened her vision of the City of Hope by including new initiatives to anchor and build her vision on the core dynamism.

She said these initiatives had been disseminated into Cohex and would continue to be the key elements in the development of City of Hope.

"We call it the City of Hope because, within its embrace, the power of hope is amplified.

"The development brings hope for youth, health, happiness, and most importantly, it enables every individual to aspire to a life of luxury, comfort, and fulfilment," she added.

The impressive development spans over a large tract of land that combines developments of The Sail and the Encore theatre and its property portfolio focuses on fashion, art, culture, artificial intelligence and wellness.