KUCHING: As the Sarawak government is focusing on a digital economy to leapfrog into Industrial 4.0, Dayak students have been assured lucrative job opportunities in these areas.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing said that technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education are important in order to produce the much-needed human capital to support the state’s development initiatives.
“When the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) Development Plan is fully realised by 2030, it is expected to create 1.6 million job opportunities,” he said during the “Malam Randau Bersama Pelajar Dayak IPT Sarawak 2019” at i-CATS West Campus, on Sunday night.
He said Sarawak’s economy is estimated to grow at five per cent this year despite economic challenges at the national and global level.
“We continue to attract foreign companies and investors to Score including the various industrial parks such as Samalaju Industrial Park and Sama Jaya High Tech Park. Through the Score Development Plan, it is forecasted that Sarawak will generate about RM334 billion in investments,” he stressed.
With all these, he said it is good news for the students, where they will be assured of job opportunities.
He therefore reminded students present at the event on the importance of obtaining education, as it is the key to a better future.
“To support our ongoing efforts to transform the state’s economy into a digital economy, there is an urgent need to equip our workforce with the relevant knowledge and skills in line with the current and future needs of the various sectors of industry,” he said.
He said the state’s digital economy would be a strong platform and also catalyst to reach out to the global business community, as well as to forge international collaborations.
“There are several new and transformational initiatives that have been established under the Sarawak Digital Economy Strategy 2018 to 2022 to drive the growth and development of the state’s development and digital economy such as the Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA), Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation and Development Bank of Sarawak.
“With that, Sarawak targets to boost its digital economy with 17.4 per cent contribution to the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 2025, again creating more new job and opportunities for entrepreneurs,” he pointed out.
Meanwhile, the event also saw a prep talk session where Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Snowdan Lawan, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Women chief Datuk Seri Doris Sophia Brodie, and Konsortium Bumi Consultants and Services Sdn Bhd (KBCS) managing director Datuk Janang Bungsu who shared and encouraged Dayak students to work and strive harder, and never give up in order to succeed in life.
