By Nigel Edgar
KOTA SAMARAHAN, Oct 29: Local graduates and academicians must foster the spirit of innovation to help propel the state into the digital economy and be at the forefront of the digital world.
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) Chancellor Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, speaking at Unimas’ 22nd Convocation Ceremony here today, pointed out that the state also needed more innovative human capital.
He also encouraged consolidating tradition with the latest innovations to ensure the state would not only be a digital-economy leader but also a leading supporter of Industry 4.0 and Education 4.0.
“As you know, Sarawak is now working hard to develop its digital economy. The state government has set up Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) to ensure all digital initiatives in the state would be implemented smoothly.
“In relation to that, the state’s Digital Economy Strategy 2018-2022 has 22 strategic moves for the economic sectors, including agriculture, tourism, smart cities (which includes physical and utility infrastructure development, housing and rural development), digital health sector, e-trading, e-government and social,” said Taib.
These strategies cover 18 catalyst strategies, including digital expertise and skills development, research and digital economy development, digital innovation and entrepreneurship, and cybersecurity.
“I believe all these would be able to propel Sarawak to its digital economy and be in the front line of the digital world,” he said.
Meanwhile, Taib lauded Unimas’ effort in encouraging “translational” research, which is digital economy-oriented. He believed what Unimas had been doing would give a long-term impact on the development of Sarawak. — DayakDaily
