KUCHING, March 8: Ambassadors from five Asean countries were given a tour of Sarawak’s Digital Economy Hub (DEH) today.
The five — Houmdaophone Soukhaseum (Laos), Rath Many (Cambodia), Le Quynh (Vietnam), Nipa Niranoot (Thailand) and Sein Nwe Aw (ambassador representative from Myanmar) — are in the city to attend Digital Tourism Forum 2018, which starts tomorrow.
DEH chief executive officer Eddie Wee said the ASEAN ambassadors had shown interest towards DEH products, hence the visit today.
“They wish to learn more about the DEH and how to set up a similar hub in their respective countries,” Wee said.
The DEH is a centre for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEM) education.
“It provides a platform for all the young and talented makers and innovators in Sarawak to learn, collaborate and assist industries to go digital,” Wee said.
The tour was specially arranged to promote DEH efforts in Sarawak to the ambassadors, demonstrating the most comprehensive digital, innovative and disruptive technologies in Sarawak. There were also demonstrations of the various uses and benefits of DEH products.
Among the laboratories toured were those by Zeemaker 3D, Fabrication, Proteus Factory, Dobots and Makeblock: International Robotics System.
Wee said DEH is a project initiated by FAME International Group in Kuching, in line with the state government’s initiative and drive in the digital economy, transformation and Industry 4.0 revolution worldwide.
The 12,000 square foot DEH facility has various type of facilities to accomplish the mission, among them are a 3D printing farm, robotic arms lab, robotic installation and programming, virtual reality, makers space and many more.
“We have close collaboration with kindergarten, primary, and secondary schools to map their academic pathways and interests. At the same time, we help set up and create STEM clubs in schools and also hold monthly robotic competitions to enhance the learning experience (of participants) whilst having fun.
“We are also the official country and exclusive distributor of these technologies such as Makeblock (Robotic system), Dobot (Robotic Arm), 3D printers (locally developed Proteus and international partner Zeemaker),” he added.
Sarawak DEH also aim to help develop other hubs to attract talent in every city and state in Malaysia. Their next hub in the making is in Kuala Lumpur.
Meanwhile, the Digital Tourism Forum is organised by the Association of Chinese-Asean Entrepreneurs (ACEA), with the support of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) as a strategic partner.
The two-day event will be attended by delegates from Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand as well as those from Australia and China.
Ambassadors or representatives of the respective countries will also share their views on the topic ‘How the Digital Age Enhances and Impacts the Asean Tourism Industry: Promoting and Interacting across Asean, the World and Malaysia’. — DayakDaily
