SARAWAK Premier Abang Johari Openg told the state assembly today that at the end of the state’s digital economy blueprint road map in 2030, there will be no distinction between the much-talked-about digital economy and the economy in the state.

He said all segments of the state’s economy – mining, agriculture and forestry, manufacturing, construction and services – will be digitally driven using ICT and “frontier digital technologies”.

The transformation, he said, will enhance productivity, yield and efficiency, and generate high-skilled jobs.

“All government services will be easily and safely accessed online, supported by data sharing and data-driven decision-making to deliver more targeted policies, services and programmes to businesses and communities,” he said in the winding-up session on the last day of the assembly meeting.

He also said by then, all regulations will be in place to ensure Sarawak has a safe, cyber-secure and vibrant environment to maximise digital value.

The new economy, Abang Johari said, will contribute about 20% to Sarawak’s GDP, estimated to be RM56.4 billion in 2030.

It will also create more than 45,000 new high-paying jobs, he said, with 80% of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) adopting digitalisation.

The digital blueprint will be implemented in three phases.

In phase 1, which ends in 2025, it is to strengthen digital readiness.

Abang Johari said the scope of work will be to enhance readiness in digital infrastructure, connectivity, digital talent, technology adoption, 5G adoption, cloud computing, research and innovation, cybersecurity, data monetisation and data management, among others.

Phase 2 (2025-2027) will further accelerate the digital transformation of priority economic sectors, enhance data-driven digital government services where technology and data are effectively used to benefit the society and businesses, attract high-tech investments, digitalise MSMEs and grow high-tech start-ups.

“By 2030, Sarawak will be a digitally developed state,” Abang Johari said, adding that the ease of doing business will be high.

“The government creates a conducive and agile environment for businesses to invest and grow, high-speed connectivity for all Sarawakians, equitable access to opportunities for all Sarawakians to uplift their social-economic status and cyber-secure and ethical digital environment.

“The blueprint targets Sarawak to tap a percentage of the global digital economy to flow into Sarawak through strategies to grow cross-border data flow by establishing data centres, digital services delivery and digital foreign direct investments.”

The premier is also welcoming the private sector “to venture in the evolving digital economy”.

He said under the digital blueprint, the private sector will play a dominant role through frontier technologies such as big data, blockchain, internet of things, artificial intelligence solutions and immersive technology. – May 24, 2023.