KUCHING, 25 JANUARY 2024 – The Asian-Oceanian Computing Industry Organisation (ASOCIO) 2023 Digital Government Award was handed over to the Premier of Sarawak, The Right Honourable Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg, at Wisma Bapa Malaysia today.
The award was won by the Sarawak Government through Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) at the ASOCIO Tech Excellence Awards held in conjunction with the ASOCIO 2023 Digital Summit in Seoul, Korea on 14 November 2023.
Handing over the award was Minister of Utility and Telecommunication Sarawak, YB Dato Sri Haji Julaihi bin Haji Narawi. Also present were Deputy Minister of Utility and Telecommunication (Telecommunication) YB Datuk Liwan Lagang and representatives from SDEC namely its Chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Haji Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani, Chief Executive Officer Ir. Ts. Sudarnoto Osman, Chief Operating Officer Puan Malseni Jamal, and Chief Technology Officer Ts. Hamadlan Hamdan.
The award recognises SDEC’s role 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, ultimately supporting the Sarawak Government in realising and driving the Sarawak Digital Economy Blueprint 2030.
The Sarawak Digital Economy Blueprint 2030 is a comprehensive plan that 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.
Since its establishment three years ago, SDEC’s initiatives have benefitted the lives of many Sarawak citizens including the STEM community, tech talents, digital businesses, social enterprises, innovators as well as community builders.
SDEC provides various services and implement initiatives such as providing broadband internet access to the rural and remote communities across Sarawak through the Sarawak Rural Broadband Network (MySRBN), empowering young minds through STEM programmes, cultivating a thriving and sustainable startup and innovation ecosystem, and supporting research and accelerating innovation into private commercialisation. Its various initiatives demonstrate that digitalisation can bridge economic and social gap, increase quality of life, and translate into lasting progress.
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.