Kuching to host Idecs 2017 from April 3-4
KUCHING: The city will host the first ever International ICT, Infrastructure and Digital Economy Conference Sarawak ( Idecs), which will be held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching ( BCCK) from April 3 to 4.
The Idecs 2017 with the theme ‘Transforming Sarawak Through Digital Economy’ is expected to attract about 1,500 delegates from not only Malaysia and Singapore, but also other neighbouring Asean countries like Brunei, Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines.
State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani, who is the organising chairman of Idecs 2017, said the conference initiated by Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg will focus on the growth of technology and deliberating on how it can help to spur more growth in the economy of the state.
“The conference will focus on creating awareness of digital economy among the local businesses to tap into larger business markets in the hope of expanding the state’s economy.
“The conference is also a platform for exchanging opinions and finding solutions to economics and investment issues to guide the Sarawak economic development,” he said after chairing the Idecs 2017 organising committee meeting at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here yesterday.
Morshidi said with digital technologies transforming the society and economy, more and more businesses around the world are thriving because they take advantage of the economic convergence, global value chains and opportunities presented by digital technologies.
“The Chief Minister wants to embark on digital economy for Sarawak so we will use this platform to create awareness on digital economy for local businesses to tap into the larger markets and a platform for sharing the best practices in digital economy. And of course, we want to do digitisation of the Sarawak economy to generate greater economic growth for Sarawak.
“We will challenge local businesses also to rethink the way they deliver their product and services through the digital economy. The bottom line is we want to see more and more Sarawakians engage (their businesses) online.”
He also announced that delegates can now register online, adding that the delegates would comprise the private sector, startups, small and medium- sized enterprises, government agencies and university students.
Morshidi said the organiser had been able to assemble 18 prominent speakers from throughout the world to talk about topics and findings in the field of digital economy, including a world renowned speaker Don Tapscott as a keynote speaker.
Amongst other speakers are Neuroware.io co-founder and chief executive officer Mark Smalley, Grab Malaysia country head Sean Goh and Lazada Malaysia chief executive officer Hans PeterRessel.
“Don Tapscott is a pioneer in this field of ‘ Digital Economy’, and we are fortunate to have him speaking at this conference. He will be speaking on various subjects including the Blockchain Revolution which is based on his book on how the digital economy is changing money and business.”
Registration for the conference is now open. Registration fee for Malaysians is RM1,500 per person, while the fee for foreign delegates is US$ 600. Delegates who register in groups of up to five will be entitled to a group discount of RM1,200 and US$ 500 ( Malaysian and foreign delegates respectively).
An early bird 10 per cent discount will be given to delegates who register before March 17. The registration fee includes conference materials, tea breaks, luncheons and a welcome dinner. Deadline for registration is March 31. The fee paid for the conference is Human Resources Development Fund ( HRDF) claimable.
The Chief Minister, who initiated the idea of this conference, is the conference patron and is expected to declare open the conference on April 3.
“The conference will be officiated by the Chief Minister and I was informed that he will personally be there during the opening and closing. He will be there and will be having a session with the people to get feedbacks and views from the participants. He is very serious about driving this digital economy,” Morshidi said.
Idecs 2017 is jointly organised by the Sarawak state government, Sarawak Centre of Performance Excellence ( SCOPE), Sarawak Information Systems Sdn Bhd ( Sains) and supported by the Leadership Institute, Sacofa, Radio Televisyen Malaysia ( RTM), Business FM ( BFM), Sarawak Business Federation, TVSarawak, Curtin University of Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak ( Unimas).
Among those present during the press conference were deputy state secretaries Dr Sabariah Putit and Datu Ismawi Ismuni.
For more information about the conference, visit www.idecs. sarawak.gov.my or contact SCOPE, the conference organiser at (+ 60) 82-231623.