24 Jun 2018
By Abdul Qaiyum Alidin
MITeC Steps Up Activities To Promote Digitalisation and Digital Economy

MITeC Steps Up Activities To Promote Digitalisation and Digital Economy

Digital Economy, Entrepreneurs, Industry 4.0, Sarawak, Smart City
MITeC steps up activities to promote digitalisation and digital economy MIRI (31 May 2018): The Ministry of International Trade and eCommerce (MITeC) is intensifying its activities this year to enhance the state’s efforts to embrace digitalisation and embark on the digital economy. MITeC assistant secretary Catherine Lee said they are targetting 24 programmes for eCommerce programmes alone to benefit 5,000 people. Figure 1: Lee (back row centre) poses with speakers, participants and organising committee members at the conclusion of the seminar. These included programmes and training, courses, workshops and incubators, National and International Conference on e-Commerce, local and International expo…
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24 Jun 2018
By Abdul Qaiyum Alidin
New Sarawak Ministry To Push Investments, International Trade

New Sarawak Ministry To Push Investments, International Trade

Digital Economy, Entrepreneurs, Sarawak, Smart City
New Sarawak ministry to push investments, international trade KUCHING (19 May 2017): Sarawak’s new Ministry of International Trade and e-Commerce, created on May 7, will strive to make the state the investment destination of choice for investors. Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh will be the minister in charge of the ministry and he will be assisted by Datuk Mohammad Naroden Majais. Addressing the state legislative assembly here yesterday, Wong said the ministry would plan, formulate, recommend and implement trade development and promotional policies for international trade, foreign direct investments (FDIs), e-commerce and international business collaboration. “We will plan, identify and…
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21 Jun 2018
By Abdul Qaiyum Alidin
Singapore Pledges to Cut Cash, Checks on Path to Digital Economy

Singapore Pledges to Cut Cash, Checks on Path to Digital Economy

Digital Economy, Industry 4.0, Smart City
Singapore pledges to cut cash, checks on path to digital economy  SINGAPORE (20 June 2018): Singapore is accelerating the shift toward digital payments by pledging to eliminate check usage by 2025 and slash cash withdrawals from automated telling machines. Both payment methods are declining in popularity, Education Minister Ong Ye Kung, who sits on the Monetary Authority of Singapore board, said in a speech on Wednesday night. To promote electronic fund transfers, the government-endorsed payments platform, called PayNow, will be extended to companies starting Aug. 13. Figure 1: Singapore is embracing technology to enhance its status as a regional financial hub…
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21 Jun 2018
By Abdul Qaiyum Alidin
Sarawak, Singapore Ink MOU For Mobile Digital Payment Collaboration

Sarawak, Singapore Ink MOU For Mobile Digital Payment Collaboration

Digital Economy, Industry 4.0, Sarawak, Smart City
Sarawak, Singapore ink MOU for mobile digital payment collaboration SINGAPORE (6 March 2018): Sarawak and Singapore this morning signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to pave the way for collaboration in the mobile digital payment platform. Figure 1: Abang Johari and entourage in a group photograph with PM Lee at the Istana. Seen at right is Dato’ Zulkifli.. Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg who is currently leading a state delegation on a two-day working visit to Singapore witnessed the signing ceremony at leading hotel here. Also present at the signing ceremony were Singapore Minister In-Charge of…
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21 Jun 2018
By Abdul Qaiyum Alidin
Sarawak Inks Deal With S’pore Entities For Mobile Digital Payment Platform

Sarawak Inks Deal With S’pore Entities For Mobile Digital Payment Platform

Digital Economy, Industry 4.0, Sarawak, Smart City
Sarawak inks deal with S'pore entities for mobile digital payment platform KUCHING (8 March 2018): Sarawak has signed a memorandum of understanding with Singapore to pave the way for collaboration in a mobile digital payment platform. The MOU was inked by the Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) and Network for Electronic Transfers (Singapore) Pte Ltd, which were represented by its general manager Dr Zaidi Razak and group chief executive Jeffrey Goh respectively. Figure 1: (From left) Dr Zaidi, Abang Johari, Dr Balakrishnan and Goh at the MOU signing ceremony. Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, who led a state…
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20 Jun 2018
By Abdul Qaiyum Alidin
M’sia Has Strong Potential As Data Centre Hub

M’sia Has Strong Potential As Data Centre Hub

Digital Economy, Industry 4.0, Smart City
M’sia has strong potential as data centre hub KUALA LUMPUR (20 June 2018): Malaysia has a strong potential to become a regional hub for data centres as well as co-location (CoLo) providers on a myriad of factors including cheaper land, lower electricity cost and skilled workforce. Vertiv Malaysia Sdn Bhd country manager Hitesh Prajapati said Malaysia has been rated as one of the top locations for data centres in Southeast Asia and it was also leading in terms of cloud technology adoption. According to Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), the data industry in Malaysia is expected to more than double to…
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20 Jun 2018
By Abdul Qaiyum Alidin
Japan Start-up Mercari Soars In First Day of Tokyo Trade

Japan Start-up Mercari Soars In First Day of Tokyo Trade

Digital Economy, Entrepreneurs, Smart City
Japan start-up Mercari soars in first day of Tokyo trade TOKYO (19 June 2018): Japanese flea market app Mercari soared yesterday as it debuted on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, a major success for the rare example of a Japanese ‘unicorn’ – a start-up valued over US$1 billion. The company initially priced its stock at 3,000 yen (US$27.30) a share, at the top of a prospective range. But that price was quickly surpassed on Tuesday, with shares trading around 5,300 yen at midday, putting the firm’s value at over 700 billion yen (US$6.37 billion). Figure 1: Mercari Inc. employees react as…
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20 Jun 2018
By Abdul Qaiyum Alidin
Alibaba’s Jack Ma and Malaysia PM Mahathir Mohamad talk tech, jobs and future as China deals come under scrutiny

Alibaba’s Jack Ma and Malaysia PM Mahathir Mohamad talk tech, jobs and future as China deals come under scrutiny

Aviation and Aerospace, Digital Economy, Entrepreneurs, General, Industry 4.0, Smart City
Alibaba’s Jack Ma and Malaysia PM Mahathir Mohamad talk tech, jobs and future as China deals come under scrutiny KUALA LUMPUR (18 June 2018): Alibaba Group’s efforts to undertake an intensive transfer of technology and skills to Malaysia are aligned with Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s hopes for the Southeast Asia economy to transit into high-income status quickly, the Chinese conglomerate’s co-founder Jack Ma said on Monday. Ma was speaking to the media after a meeting with Mahathir in Kuala Lumpur – the first by a Chinese entrepreneur since the country’s landmark election on May 9 in which the veteran politician…
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20 Jun 2018
By Abdul Qaiyum Alidin
Jack Ma: It was Dr M’s MSC that inspired me to start Alibaba

Jack Ma: It was Dr M’s MSC that inspired me to start Alibaba

Aviation and Aerospace, Digital Economy, Entrepreneurs, General, Industry 4.0, Smart City
Jack Ma: It was Dr M's MSC that inspired me to start Alibaba KUALA LUMPUR (18 Jun 2018): The inspiration to form Alibaba was inspired by Malaysia's Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC), says Jack Ma. The Alibaba founder and executive chairman said that he read about MSC in a newspaper 20 years ago and found the idea inspiring. "I thought, 'Wow, this is a genius idea. If Malaysia can do this, why can't China. Why can't I do this myself?' "So Malaysia inspired me to create Alibaba," he said during the launch of an Alibaba Group office in Kuala Lumpur on…
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