18th World Kite Festival

Columbia, Russia and Zambia join the 18th World Kite Festival

Up, up and away: Johor State Tourism and Domestic Trade Committee chairman Datuk Hoo Seong Chang (third from left) together with Johor Tourism director Md Zainal Misram (second from left), On (fourth from left) and Rosniza (far right) and Kamaruld (far left) during the 18th World Kite Festival press conference.

Four new countries - Colombia, Russia, Ukraine and Zambia will be taking part in the upcoming 18th World Kite Festival.

Their participation will increase the number of countries taking part from 32 to 36 in 2011 and foreign participants from 225 to 236 in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

“More and more foreign countries have expressed their interest to participate in the yearly event,” Pasir Gudang Municipal Council (MMPG) president On Jabbar said in a press conference, recently.

He said this after receiving RM50,000 sponsorship from Johor Corp Business acceleration unit corporate services vice-president Kamaruld Salleh and KFC Holdings (M) Bhd group corporate communications general manager Rosniza Baharum.

On said the number of foreign countries and international participants taking part in the event had increased gradually since the event first started in 1995.

He said this year’s event would be more exciting as more local and foreign participations would show off their kite-flying skills with their own uniquely designed kites.

“Apart from watching colourful kites flying over Pasir Gudang skies, we have lined-up several activities in the four-day event,” added On.

Kite exhibitions, competitions, kite making workshops as well as cultural performances were among the activities to watch out for.

Similarly, MPPG has also launched the mobile radio vehicle which will roam different areas in Johor Baru, Nusajaya, Kulaijaya and Kota Tinggi to promote the event.

More than 800 local and foreign participants will take part in event at Bukit Layang-Layang, Pasir Gudang from Feb 20 to 24.

~News courtesy of The Star~