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Malaysia: SMEs urged to use digital technology to gain cutting edge
KUCHING: Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) must be open to embracing digital technologies to compete effectively in the global market.
Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said they should leverage the available facilities and innovate.
He advised organisations to offer their products and services internationally by utilising technology.
“Apple co-founder Steve Jobs once said that creativity is about connecting things.
“We should always think out of the box and realise that something disruptive can have ten times the business impact,” Abang Johari said in his inaugural address at the digital economy workforce forum here yesterday.
The chief minister’s speech was read by his deputy Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
To be a digital leader, Sarawak would have to utilise data analytics for better decision-making which would encourage greater collaboration across industries, Abang Johari said.
The chief minister lauded the forum, Workforce for the Future – Driving the Digital Economy for Sarawak and Beyond, for enhancing the digital capability and capacity of local talents.
“The wave of change towards the digital economy would certainly make the global economy more competitive,” he said.
Hence, the state must intensify efforts in building competencies and capabilities to create new industry solutions.
Abang Johri cited Grab, Uber, Waze and Lazada as among early examples of Industry 4.0 companies or start-ups, which became successful because they were able to democratise technologies such as cloud computing and the Internet of Things.
The event also saw the launch of Sarawak Centre of Performance Excellence’s (Scope) “Digital Leadership Academy” in collaboration with Hay/Korn Ferry.
This initiative is in tandem with Sarawak’s digital economic strategy to develop the talent pool within government-linked corporations and other companies in the state.
Uggah presented certificates to the first batch of digital leadership academy participants who completed their training.
Source: https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2018/01/18/smes-urged-to-use-digital-technology-to-gain-cutting-edge/#bTHaKbTUOb1pXWyg.99