Sarawak eyes role in ASEAN’s US$2 trillion digital economy

KUCHING, 5 Oct: Sarawak is positioning itself within a more closely connected ASEAN economy as the region’s digital sector is projected to reach as much as US$2 trillion by 2030.

Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said new regional frameworks and infrastructure were strengthening the movement of data, energy, capital, knowledge and services across borders.

He cited the conclusion of negotiations on the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) and the continued development of the ASEAN Power Grid as part of that shift.

“With the successful implementation of DEFA, ASEAN’s digital economy could reach as much as US$2 trillion by 2030,” he said at the International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (IDECS) 2026 here.

Abang Johari said Sarawak was already linked into this regional network through its electricity interconnections with West Kalimantan and Sabah.

“Our power system is interconnected with West Kalimantan and Sabah,” he added.

He further said the links showed how infrastructure in Sarawak could support economic activity beyond its borders and form part of a wider regional system.

He added that ASEAN’s increasing integration was changing the scale at which economies in the region operate, with digital systems and energy infrastructure becoming more closely connected.

This, he explained, was also reflected in the theme of IDECS 2026, which focuses on a “borderless economy” and how Sarawak fits into a more integrated regional landscape. – TVS