ICE BSD to Host GSDC 2026, Strengthening Role as Sustainability Enabler for Global Forums

The Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) industry continues to demonstrate its strategic role in supporting Indonesia’s economic growth and tourism. As of September 2025, 134 national events were recorded, attracting a total of 10.8 million visitors. Indonesia ranks 37th globally and 4th in the ASEAN region for the MICE industry, reinforcing its position as an increasingly competitive destination for international events and conferences. To strengthen this momentum, the government is targeting an increase in the sector’s foreign exchange contribution from around 10% to 15% by 2029. This target will be pursued through the development of a national event ecosystem, enhanced destination competitiveness, and a more inclusive and sustainable expansion of economic impact. This growth momentum opens greater opportunities for Indonesia to host large-scale global forums. One such opportunity is the appointment of the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE) BSD as the host of the Global Sustainable Development Congress (GSDC) 2026, a sustainable development forum convening global leaders from various sectors. Siti Karmila, General Manager of ICE BSD, stated, ‘The appointment of ICE BSD as the host of GSDC 2026 is a great honour and a recognition of the capacity and operational standards we have built over the years. We are committed not only to providing the best facilities but also to serving as a global collaboration hub that brings together various stakeholders to drive innovation and knowledge exchange for accelerating sustainable development.’ In line with the increasing demand for sustainable event management, ICE BSD is strengthening its role as a MICE destination that integrates operations with environmental responsibility. This commitment is part of ICE BSD’s transformation to set new standards for the event industry in Indonesia. In practice, ICE BSD has developed various sustainability initiatives, including energy efficiency through natural lighting, the use of energy-saving LED lamps, a water recycling system, and the provision of EV charging stations for visitors and event participants. This commitment was further reinforced through a collaboration with Rekosistem for GSDC 2026 to implement an integrated waste management system. The initiative included segregated waste bins, educator assistance for waste sorting, and a Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) to encourage active participant involvement in collecting recyclable materials. Through this collaboration, a total of 1.62 tonnes of waste was managed during GSDC 2026. Rekosistem recorded a recovery rate of 41%, diverting materials from final disposal sites (TPA) into the recycling process, while 57.30% was residual waste and 1.60% was organic waste. Of the total waste collected over four collection cycles, the salvaged inorganic materials were dominated by plastic waste at 14.35% and paper at 10.07%, followed by plastic bottles, cardboard, glass, and metal. This comprehensive sorting and management effort created a significant environmental impact by reducing carbon emissions by 667.9 kg CO2. This environmental saving is equivalent to planting 11.35 tree seedlings grown for 10 years, or saving 285.70 litres of petrol and 333.25 kg of coal. This step represents a tangible effort to promote circular economy practices within the MICE industry. ‘Through GSDC 2026, we want to demonstrate that hosting a global-scale international forum can go hand in hand with environmental responsibility. We hope this initiative can serve as an example for other event organisers to adopt more sustainable practices that have a broad impact on the MICE industry,’ added Siti Karmila. GSDC 2026 will feature over 5,000 participants, 500 speakers, 200 exhibitors, and delegates from more than 100 countries. The forum serves as a cross-sector platform to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through innovation, knowledge, and concrete action. Beyond its superior facilities, ICE BSD was chosen to host GSDC 2026 because it offers added value through highly strategic connectivity for international participants. Serving as a modern global-scale convention centre, the location is easily accessible via various modes of public and private transport. For delegates arriving by air, the journey from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to ICE BSD takes only about 35 minutes by car or airport train. The convenience of public transport access is also reflected in the integration of the Airport Train (KAI Railink) route to Duri Station, which then connects with the commuter line via Tanah Abang to the Rangkasbitung Line to Cisauk Station. From the nearest station, participants can take a short taxi or ride-hailing service trip to the venue. For land routes, ICE BSD is also highly accessible thanks to direct connections with major toll road networks, including the Prof. Dr. Sedyatmo Toll Road, JORR W2, and the Kunciran–Serpong Toll Road. With indoor and outdoor areas spanning more than 85,000 square metres, ICE BSD is the largest MICE destination in Indonesia and has hosted various international conferences, exhibitions, concerts, and forums for over a decade. Located in BSD City, which is integrated with hotels, commercial centres, and transport access, ICE BSD continues to strengthen its position as a primary enabler.