Sarawak govt conferred Digital Government Award from Asian-Oceanian Computing Industry Organisation

Julaihi (centre) photographed during the Award presentation ceremony held in South Korea on Nov 14, 2023.

SEOUL, Nov 14: The Sarawak government has been conferred the Digital Government Award at the prestigious Asian-Oceanian Computing Industry Organisation (ASOCIO) Tech Excellence Awards Ceremony held in conjunction with the ASOCIO 2023 Digital Summit in Seoul, South Korea today.

According to a media release, the award recognised Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation’s (SDEC) role in deployment of digital infrastructures and technology such as telecommunication infrastructure, innovation hubs for startups development, centre of excellence and translational research grants among others.

Accepting the award on behalf of the Sarawak government is Minister of Utility and Telecommunication Sarawak Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi.

Also present were Deputy Minister of Utility and Telecommunication Sarawak (Telecommunication) Datuk Liwan Lagang, SDEC chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani, SDEC chief executive officer Sudarnoto Osman and chief operating officer Malseni Jamal.

In his acceptance speech, Julaihi said that it is a great distinction for the Sarawak government to be recognised by an organisation that the ICT industry holds in high esteem, and to be an example to the economies in the Asia-Oceania region.

He added that the award enables the government to bring greater digital transformation to its people as it will inspire greater confidence in the global business community as well as attract skilled technology talent.

This will facilitate future growth and expansion, in line with the aim to transform Sarawak into a digital economy powerhouse as envisioned by the Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg when he launched the Sarawak Digital Economy Strategy 2018-2022.

“Last month, the Sarawak Premier launched the Sarawak Digital Economy Blueprint 2030, a comprehensive plan curated based on the existing Sarawak Digital Economy Strategy 2018-2022.

“Under the Premier’s leadership, the Blueprint will set the direction for Sarawak to achieve the leading digital economy and society status by 2030.

“It will position Sarawak to be a high-income developed region, transforming from conventional resource-based economy to an environmentally sustainable technology-based economy,” Julaihi said.

In Sarawak, key implementing agencies namely SDEC, Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) and Sarawak Information Systems (SAINS) are entrusted to lead the implementation of Sarawak’s digital economy initiatives. — DayakDaily