Abang Johari (fourth right) touches the screen to officiate at the symposium. From left are William, Snowdan, Morshidi, Dr Rundi, Manyin, Aziz, Abdul Karim and Dr Annuar.
KUCHING: The Sarawak government is putting emphasis on talent development as the state embarks into digital economy which is hoped to be achieved by 2022.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state laid the Digital Economy Strategy 2018-2022 and allocated RM1 billion last year for building infrastructure for the purpose.
“In Sarawak, the government that I lead is putting emphasis on talent development so that 50 per cent of our total population of 2.7 million who are below 55 years old will become a driving force to transform our economy from conventional to digital economy…and by the year 2022, we will have enough talent,” the chief minister pointed out.
He was speaking at the opening of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) symposium at Pullman Hotel here yesterday.
Abang Johari stressed that the state has no options but to adapt to the world economic landscape or be left behind.
“As we all know, the whole world economic landscape has changed where technology is the key for us to provide employment as well as generate income…our economy is no longer integrated based on national boundary, but more integrated with global economy.
“And that is why the state government embarks on a journey for talent development to transform our economy because we want to use technology in all spheres of our economic activities, to become part of the global economy,” he asserted.
The chief minister further said that TVET is an important journey to transform the economy and the state is concentrating on producing the talents.
He added that the state has Sarawak Skills Development Centre (PPKS) to produce basic human skills, while Centre of Technical Excellence (Centexs), which is presently working with Huawei, will explore new ways and means to provide education and also technology transfer.
The chief minister also stressed on the importance of the English language for the state to progress with digital economy.
“Whether you like it or not, the importance of English is a fact of life and therefore we must have good command of the language,” he pointed out, adding that the state is fortunate to have English as the official language besides Bahasa Malaysia.
He further said that the government would also promote investment to spur economic growth and empower the private sector as the main engine of growth.
At the function, an exchange of memorandum of cooperation between PPKS and Bendigo Kangan Institute, Australia was also held.
Present were Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong; Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah; Minister of Utilities Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom; State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani; Assiatant Minister of Education and Technological Research Dr Annuar Rapaee; Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Snowdan Lawan; PPKS chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Husain; PPKS executive director Hallman Sabri and permanent secretary to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Research Datu William Nyigor.