PUTRAJAYA: Some 3,000 participants are expected to attend the Bumiputera Economy Congress 2024 (BEC) without biases against Opposition participation, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

"We are not biased towards anyone about questions concerning the economy of the bumiputera," the Deputy Prime Minister told reporters after the pre-launch of the congress here on Wednesday (Feb 14).

He said this when was asked if the congress, to be held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) from Feb 29 to March 2, would be open to all irrespective of their political affiliation.

Ahmad Zahid said that 10 sectors would be discussed during the congress, where recommendations and resolutions would be presented to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who was scheduled to close the event on March 2.

"We will be involving the Malay Chambers of Commerce, including those representing the Iban and Dayak from Sarawak.

"There will also be a cluster on Sarawak and Sabah, who will form an important component of the recommendations," he said, adding that representatives from the Orang Asli community would also be among those involved with the congress.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister, said that the congress's focus was to explore new technologies that were forecast to be developed by the next decade.

He added that the congress would also examine the performances of agencies that were established and entrusted to champion the bumiputera agenda since the first congress was held in 1965.

Other BECs were held in 1980, 1992, 2010 and 2020.

Earlier, Anwar Ibrahim launched the BEC logo and theme "Positive, Progressive, Innovative".