KUCHING: Sarawak has set a target to become Malaysia's leading artificial intelligence (AI) hub by 2027, in line with its aspiration to strengthen its talent development strategy and digital economy towards becoming a developed and high-income state by 2030.

Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn said the world is witnessing rapid changes driven by AI and digitalisation.

"In recent years, the world has witnessed rapid technological changes, driven by AI and digitalisation.

"Sarawak cannot be left behind in this wave of change, hence industry players need to adapt quickly.

"Meanwhile, local talent must be equipped with the right skills, digital tools and mindset to enable them to continue to thrive in the ever-changing landscape," he said at the Industry Connect@Sarawak Programme held here, on Wednesday.

In addition, Dato Sri Roland Sagah also stressed that under the Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, the Sarawak Government is committed to ensuring that economic aspirations are in line with an inclusive talent development strategy.

“PCDS 2030 sets a grand target of creating 500,000 skilled jobs, increasing the median household income to RM15,049 and ensuring that every Sarawakian has access to meaningful employment across various sectors,” he said.

The Sarawak Government is also focusing on innovation, inclusivity and sustainability including building a strong ecosystem for renewable energy, expanding green energy-based industries, strengthening the semiconductor value chain, and preparing the people for the digital economy.

This target of becoming an AI hub is being implemented through strategic collaboration with the Centre for Technical Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS) Lundu and Amazon Web Services (AWS), under the framework of the Sarawak Digital Economy Blueprint (SDE) 2030 to transform Sarawak from a resource-based economy to a technology-driven, sustainable and globally competitive economy.

Meanwhile, TalentCorp Group Chief Executive Officer, Thomas Mathew also announced that TalentCorp has allocated a special fund of RM1 million to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Sarawak.

With the implementation of this strategy, Sarawak is believed to be able to accelerate digital transformation, produce the workforce of the future, and strengthen the state's position as a regional digital economy leader. -UKASnews