‘Make full use of digital economy to compete in international market’
MIRI: Sarawakians in particular young entrepreneurs ought to take full advantage of the state government’s seriousness in advancing the digital economy for Sarawak to compete in the international market.
Assistant Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin said good policies, facilities and knowledge of the digital economy are important in this digital era.
“The world we live in is becoming more digital, especially in the way we do business. You no longer have to invest in large amounts of physical capital, office space and staff to get a profitable venture off the ground. Nowadays, all you need is a small investment and a little bit of time to go into business online,” Lee said when closing a two- day digital economy training workshop here over the weekend.
He said the state government was embarking on strategies to develop the digital economy, among them investing RM1 billion to ensure the state’s ICT infrastructure can support the digital industries, commerce and investment that will be lured to Sarawak.
“Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Abang Openg when announcing the allocation recently said the plan was to have uninterrupted network speed where one can transmit data, video through wifi or mobile device anytime without buffering.”
Lee added among other digital economy based initiatives taken by the state government were setting up the state’s own multimedia authority - the Sarawak Multimedia and Communications Authority (SMCA) and drawing up an E- Commerce Transform Plan ( E- Com Y30) up to year 2030.
“This plan will prepare our youths in the Digital Village in Samajaya Free Industrial Trade Zone to graduate as e- Commerce start-ups and entrepreneurs with digital knowledge,” he said.
Lee who is also Sarawak United People’s Party SUPP vicepresident said implementation of the digital economy will create a new dimension of development and growth for Sarawak by creating new jobs for young people, and transforming the way they live and do business.
Lee commended the organisers SUPP, Miri Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI), Miri Entrepreneurs Club and JCI Miri for organising the workshop, which is the first for Sarawak business community in Mandarin.
Three renowned speakers from universities in China, Professor Chan Xiao Ming and lecturers Tee Hua Ming and Shi Ai Ping who were familiar with Alibaba online business conducted the workshop for 108 entrepreneurs and interested members of the public.
Also attending was Erick Chin from MCCCI who was the organising chairman and special officer to Lee.
Lee suggested that more training, seminars and conferences on e- business be held so that more people can be knowledgeable, competitive and able to utilise and capitalise on the good ICT infrastructure the state is planning to implement in the near future.