Connecting communities via road network, green tech

KUCHING: The Regional Corridor Development Authority (RECODA) underscored its commitment to integrating green technology into infrastructure projects, particularly the road network in northern Sarawak.

Highlighting this during the 7th International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (IDECS), RECODA’s chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Ismawi Ismuni said that the development of the Northern Coastal Highway (NCH) is one of RECODA’s key projects that connects communities and supports artificial intelligence (AI) integration.

He stressed the importance of connectivity in building an ecosystem that supports AI, aligning with the objectives of the Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“Before talking about AI and digitalisation, the first priority must be roads, accessibility, and connectivity. Only then can communities benefit from digitalisation and eventually, AI technologies,” he said.

He said this during his session titled ‘Sustainable Development Through Green Infrastructure’ on the second day of IDECS 2024 at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here today.

Explaining further, he said that the NCH, which is a 88-km dual carriageway incorporates elevated infrastructure designed to minimise environmental disruption while enhancing connectivity, not just among northern Sarawak’s communities, but also across the region, linking Sarawak with Brunei, Sabah, and Indonesia.

“The NCH is pivotal in fostering trade and investment while supporting environmental sustainability,” he said.