SEOUL, 14 NOVEMBER 2023 – The Sarawak Government through Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) has been conferred the prestigious ASOCIO (Asian-Oceanian Computing Industry Organisation) 2023 Digital Government Award. The award recognises SDEC’s roles in the deployment of digital infrastructures and technology such as telecommunication infra, innovation hubs for startups development, centre of excellence, and translational research grants among others.

The award was presented at the ASOCIO Tech Excellence Awards ceremony today held in conjunction with the ASOCIO 2023 Digital Summit in Seoul, Korea.

Accepting the award on behalf of the Sarawak Government is Minister of Utility and Telecommunication Sarawak YB Dato Sri Haji Julaihi bin Haji Narawi. Also part of the Sarawak Government delegation is Deputy Minister of Utility and Telecommunication (Telecommunication) Sarawak YB Datuk Liwan Lagang, Chairman of Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) Tan Sri Datuk Amar Haji Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani, Chief Executive Officer of SDEC Ir. Ts. Sudarnoto Osman, and Chief Operating Officer of SDEC Madam Malseni Jamal.

In his acceptance speech, Julaihi said that it is a great distinction for the Sarawak Government to be recognised by an organisation that the ICT industry holds in high esteem, and to be an example to the economies in the Asia-Oceania region.

He added that the award enables the Government to bring greater digital transformation to its people as it will inspire greater confidence in the global business community as well as attract skilled technology talent. This will facilitate future growth and expansion, in line with the aim to transform Sarawak into a digital economy powerhouse as envisioned by the Premier of Sarawak when he launched the Sarawak Digital Economy Strategy 2018-2022.

“Last month, the Sarawak Premier launched the Sarawak Digital Economy Blueprint 2030, a comprehensive plan curated based on the existing Sarawak Digital Economy Strategy 2018-2022.

Under the Premier’s leadership, the Blueprint will set the direction for Sarawak to achieve the leading digital economy and society status by 2030. It will position Sarawak to be a high-income developed region, transforming from conventional resource-based economy to an environmentally sustainable technology-based economy”, Julaihi said.

In Sarawak, key implementing agencies namely Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA), Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), and Sarawak Information Systems (SAINS) are entrusted to lead the implementation of Sarawak’s digital economy initiatives. These agencies ensure the development and implementation of Sarawak’s digital economy initiatives are inclusive, accessible, and sustainable.

The key criteria of the ASOCIO Digital Government Award are the ability of the government to implement digital strategies and solutions to significantly improve the service quality to citizens; apply technology to providing ethical and transparent government services; deploy digital services to significantly empower the education, social welfare, and public health of citizens; and deploy well-recognised applications in key smart city areas.

Established in 1984, the ASOCIO is a trade organisation representing more than 10,000 ICT companies from 24 member countries from Asia Pacific. The objectives are to promote, encourage and foster relationships and trade among its members, and to develop the computing industry in the region.