The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) has advised the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Associtation (ITA) that WTC 2020 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is cancelled. The Executive Council of ITA supports IEM’s decision to cancel a physical WTC 2020. ITA shares IEM’s view that this is in the best interests of the welfare and safety of our global ITA family. 

IEM has also advised ITA that they intend to hold a virtual conference instead of WTC 2020 and are not intending to provide a substantial refund of the monies received from sponsors, exhibitors, and registrants. 

ITA expects IEM to provide substantial refunds for all sponsors, exhibitors and registrants and will continue to work to achieve this outcome. With a successful resolution of the refund issue ITA could support the concept of a virtual conference in 2020. 

We acknowledge the great efforts that have been expended by  IEM and our global family to prepare for WTC 2020 and express our shared disappointment that the global pandemic has led to this outcome. 

Looking to the future we hope the COVID 19 crisis can be brought under control so that the international tunnelling community can safely meet again and work together for a better-shared future.