KUCHING: The 27th World Congress on Innovation and Technology (WCIT) and the 6th International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (IDECS) 2023 can be a catalyst to sustainable development and economic prosperity for businesses in Sarawak.
Minister of Utility and Telecommunication Datuk Julaihi Narawi said the convergence of both WCIT and IDECS makes the event a unique platform to bridge the gap and create opportunities to build a business environment and ecosystem driven by innovation, technology and sustainability.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg are expected to attend at the event.
WCIT/IDECS 2023 is scheduled to take place simultaneously on Oct 4 – 6 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK).
It is expected to convene more than 10,000 industry experts, policymakers and entrepreneurs from more than 80 countries around the world.
Prominent speakers will be participating from over 22 countries and will explore thought-provoking discussions and provide an unparalled opportunity to explore the latest trends, technologies and business models in the digital economy.
Featuring a comprehensive programme and events comprising business matching sessions and a gala dinner awards night, WCIT/IDECS 2023 aims to explore various facets of the digital economy and its transformative impact on industries, business models, communities and the people.
Themed “Fulfilling the Promise of the Digital Age: Innovation and Technology Driving Economic Prosperity, Social Inclusivity and Environmental Sustainability” and “Advancing Digital Economy for Sustainable Development” respectively, it will see the Sarawak government hosting keynote addresses, multidisciplinary plenary discussions and networking sessions to facilitate international collaboration, knowledge and insights exchange around key topics such as artifical intelligence (AI), sustainability, 5G, autonomous, diversity and inclusivity, smart cities, global ICT policy and space tech.
In conjunction with WCIT/IDECS, Julaihi said the She-Tech Asia Forum 2023 will be launched as a pre-event to the programme on Oct 3, to highlight and focus on women’s representation in the technology industry.
Key speakers of the She-Tech Asia Forum include Mike Walsh, Professor Hiroshi Ishiguro, Emma Yang and Tiffany Pham.
“I hope this will inspire more women to participate in technology, in an increasingly digitised world,” he said at the launch of 50-Day Countdown to WCIT/IDECS 2023 at a hotel here, Tuesday (Aug 15).
“On behalf of the Sarawak government, we are pleased to announced the countdown to WCIT/IDECS 2023 and final preparations for the congress are underway.
“With thousands of international industry players assembled here, Sarawak has a fine opportunity to showcase its own capabilities and world class infrastructure.
“You will find that we are well able to serve as an efficient technology hub for the region, with a digitalisation agenda aimed at developed state status by 2030,” he said.
Also present at the launching were Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Morshidi Abdul Ghani, deputy minister Datuk Liwan Lagang, SDEC chief executive officer Sudarnoto Osman, World Innovation, Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) chairman Dr Sean Seah and National Tech Association of Malaysia (PIKOM) deputy chairman Alex Liew.
