State eyes talent development as digital economy transformation gets underway

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Abang Johari speaking at the opening of the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) symposium.

KUCHING: The state government is emphasising talent development as the state embarks on its digital economy strategy, which it hopes to achieve by 2022.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state has a digital economy strategy that it hopes to fully execute by 2022.

“In Sarawak, about 50 percent of our total population of 2.7 million who are below 55-years-old will become a driving force to transform our economy from a conventional to digital economy,” Abang Johari said at the opening of the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) symposium at Pullman hotel today.

“By the year 2022, we will have enough talent to transform our economy,” the chief minister pointed out.

Abang Johari stressed that the state has no choice but to embark on its digital economy plan to adjust to the needs of the global economic transformation.

“Our economy is no longer integrated based on national boundaries, but more integrated with the global economy, and if you want to play your part in the global economy, you have no other options but to adjust yourself to the needs of the global economy or you will be left behind,” he asserted.

For this reason, he said he has allocated RM1 billion last year to improve and build up the internet infrastructure in the state.

The chief minister also pointed out that the English language was very important for the state to progress, especially with the digital economy transformation strategy in mind.

“The importance of English is a fact of life and therefore we must have good command of the language,” he said.