By Dayangku Hidayatul
KUCHING, Sept 19: Sarawak is set to welcome 10,000 delegates at the upcoming International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (IDECS) 2025, which will be held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) from Oct 22 to 23.
Minister of Utility and Telecommunication Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi said this year’s conference, themed “AI and Green Evolution: Growth, Challenges and Community Resilience”, is expected to attract participants from more than 40 countries, similar to previous years.
He added that IDECS 2025 will also feature Bioeconomy Corporation, an agency under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), as its official partner.
“Among the 120 speakers are James Barrat, author of Our Final Invention: Artificial Intelligence and the End of the Human Era; Dr Ayesha Khanna, a globally recognised AI expert and entrepreneur; and Dr Justin Cohen, one of the world’s leading experts in human transformation,” he said during a press conference at LCDA Tower here today.
He further said the conference will feature the prestigious Digital Economy Awards (DEA) 2025, which will be divided into seven categories: Digital Technology Transformation, Research and Development and Commercialisation, Entrepreneurship and Startup, Digital Government, Digital Creative Content, Environmental Sustainability, and Digital Leadership. Each category will carry a RM10,000 cash prize, a trophy and a certificate.
“From these, the Premier’s Digital Economy Award will be presented to one winner, who will also be given the opportunity to attend the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next year, inclusive of travel and accommodation,” Julaihi added.
IDECS 2025 will be officiated by Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg on Oct 22.
Meanwhile, a pre-IDECS programme, the Leaders Masterclass, will be held on Oct 21 to provide leaders with exposure to the role of AI and human transformation.
Also present were Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani, SDEC chief executive officer Dato Sudarnoto Osman, Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) general manager Dato Dr Anderson Tiong Ing Heng, Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication Sarawak permanent secretary Datu Jafri Lias, Sarawak Information Systems Sdn Bhd (SAINS) director of Customer Relationship Management, Nadia Suhaili, and Bioeconomy Corporation chief executive officer Mohd Khairul Fidzal Abdul Razak. — DayakDaily
