Conference for exchange of ideas and info among countries

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Professor Jim (left) presenting a souvenir to Professor Lee, witnessed by Lai (middle).

Professor Jim (left) presenting a souvenir to Professor Lee, witnessed by Lai (middle).

MIRI: The 33rd Pan-Pacific Conference (PPC) which started at Pullman Hotel yesterday will provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information to promote understanding and cooperation among countries.

Miri Mayor Lawrence Lai said such international academic conference explored how innovation and co-creation build a smart society in this networked and dynamic global economy.

“Technology is seen as the saviour for urban challenges such as Rio de Janiero’s much trumpeted Operation Centre designed by International Business Machines (IBM).

“However, some of the projects are failing to add long-term value because they have not been aligned to an overarching strategy, and have been implemented in silos with no holistic understanding of citizens and business fundamental value. The transformation to smart goes beyond leveraging technology for greater efficiency and is about building a platform for collaboration that empowers parties to solve urban challenges more dynamically,” he said when officiating at the conference.

Lai said the city of Barcelona had adopted such a transformation approach.

“I led an entourage from Miri City Council (MCC) to Fira Barcelona in Spain or Eastern Regional for Planning and Housing (Earoph) Smart City World Congress last year. Our paper on ‘Miri City Smart Society’ has been selected among 279 papers submitted to Earoph Barcelona to be presented during parallel session of Smart City World Congress.

“MCC was the only local authorities from Malaysia chosen by Earoph Barcelona to present the paper during the session.”

He said it was exciting for the international representation from more than 20 countries converge in Miri for the conference.

“I wish you a most fruitful conference with interesting and stimulating discussions and exchange of knowledge so that we can, together, envisage a smart society built through innovation and co-creation.”

A total of 200 delegates from 24 countries attended the three-day conference hosted by Curtin University of Sarawak in collaboration with the Pan-Pacific Business Association (PPBA) and Sarawak Convention Bureau.

Also present were president of PPBA Professor Sang M Lee and prof vice-chancellor cum chief executive Curtin

Sarawak Professor Jim Mienczakowski.