The State Government through the Industrial Development Ministry hosted a seminar entitled 'Championing Sabah's Digital Economy' on March 7 at Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa and saw Chief Minister, Tan Sri Musa Aman, gracing the seminar.

It is organised in collaboration with the Resources and Information Technology Development Ministry, Malaysia Digital Economic Corporation (MDEC), Department of Industrial Development and Research (DIDR), State Computer Services Department (JPKN), KKIP Sdn Bhd, Sabah Net Sdn Bhd, Sabah Computer Association (SCS) and the Sabah E-Commerce Association (SEA).

In his welcoming speech, Tan Sri Musa shared that through Budget 2018, the State Government has allocated RM134 million to drive and intensify efforts to promote investment and business opportunities in the state.

"The State Government continues to be committed to driving the state's economic growth, including in the industry, which is one of the cornerstones of Sabah's State Development and Development Vision" he added.

In 2016, Sabah received an investment of RM3.13 billion and successfully created 5,154 jobs. During the period of 2013 to June 2017, accumulated investment value in the manufacturing sector until June 2017 reached RM10.48 billion and generated 11,416 job opportunities.

"I am pleased to approve the additional allocation to the Ministry of Industrial Development of RM1 million, for the development of the State's digital economy" said Tan Sri Musa, encouraging the communities and youths who are in the digital economy realm to seize this opportunity.

Tan Sri Musa added that there is also RM105 million reserved for ministries that need funding for special programmes that will benefit the Sabah community.

Seven information sharing sessions were presented by highly knowledgeable and experienced people in the e-commerce business. Some of the sharing touched on 'e-Commerce Opportunities and Digital Free Trade Zones (DFTZ)', 'Tour Buddy Program', 'Are Your Products Export Ready', 'Shipping Your Products as Easy as 1-2-3', and 'Digital Logistic Transformation in East Malaysia'.

An e-commerce platform ‘Borneo Kaki' was also launched. Borneo Kaki is an integral part of Shared Services & Outsourcing (SSO). The programme assists SME entrepreneurs in packaging, logistics, storage, promotion and delivery to retail shops. SSO aims to increase sales and income of entrepreneurs consistently and help them to be self-reliant.

"This online business is well suited to every level of society including youth, women, university and school drop-outs as well as retired civil servants. In other words, this online business is a business for all and is not dominated by large corporations" said Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah, Minister of Industrial Development.

"What I mean here is not just about marketing SME products online but across the board where all business sectors have started doing business online such as public transport such as Uber and Grab, financing systems, tourism, education , logistics, real estate, payment and various types of services such as car repair, aircond service, car wash, home repair and many more business types" he added.

The seminar saw a turn up of 1,150 participants. Also present at the seminar were Sabah Cabinet Members, Datuk Bolkiah Haji Ismail, Assistant Minister of Industrial Development, Tan Sri Haji Sukarti Wakiman, Secretary of the Sabah State Government, Datuk Bruno Vun, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Resource Development and Information Technology.