From the Chairman’s Desk

Dr Sean Seah PIKOM Chairman

The rst half of 2022 has been a time of recovery and restoration as businesses rev their engines and open their doors again. So much has happened over the last eight months and we at PIKOM, cannot wait for September 2022 – to welcome WCIT 2022. The industry has been all abuzz about WCIT 2022, the biggest tech event to be held in Malaysia. In just a few weeks, we will be welcoming 4,000 delegates from across 80 countries. The convergence of the tech industry in Penang is set to send sparks into the regional tech landscape, making Malaysia shine brighter on the global tech map. Organising WCIT 2022 has indeed been an honour for PIKOM, as we gather the tech fraternity under the same roof.

We are organising this event in partnership with the Penang state government as host, and Malaysia Digital Economic Corporation (MDEC) as strategic enabler. We are con dent that WCIT 2022 is all set to create impactful waves across the regional tech landscape. To-date we have more than 80 partners who have signed up to support this global tech congress, which is levelling up above and beyond digital, innovation and technology. All Malaysian states are participating in this event to showcase Malaysian innovation and technology to the WITSA global community of over 80 economies. WCIT 2022 Malaysia will de nitely involve and include tourism and FDIs.

We have had the opportunity to welcome many partners on board WCIT 2022. In fact, we are even engaged in a tri-partite collaboration with HRDCorp and WITSA. Through WCIT 2022, we will be opening Malaysia’s doors to welcome global tech giants from across the world, an important driver for Malaysia Digital’s mission to attract digital investments.

WCIT 2022 delegates can expect to enjoy exciting perks that include special travel deals o ered by Malaysia Airlines and Fire y, 20% discount on air tickets from now till 10 September 2022 for delegates attending the event. To top that, MHholidays and Fire y Holidays are o ering a 10% discount on hotel bookings for the same travelling period. So, WCIT 2022 is de nitely not an event to be missed. I encourage all of you to participate in WCIT 2022 and make the most of this opportunity to expand your horizons and explore international tech markets. Come and meet tech industry captains, global world leaders, world academic heads and many renowned speakers. So, get your tickets today.

I am also pleased to announce that OM is now o cially known as Digital Global Business Services Council Malaysia (GBS Malaysia). The council just launched the Global Business Services (GBS) – Malaysia Strategy 2022 Report. This is a strategic public-private-partnership (PPP) initiative which was idealised in early 2021 as an industry-led Strategic Roadmap for the GBS Industry with the aim to drive the industry forward in the next 5 years. As a Strategic Roadmap, the report is spearheaded by GBS Malaysia, supported by Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), Invest Penang, Iskandar Investment Berhad (IIB), Invest KL, Invest Selangor, Cyberview, the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) and the Contact Centre Association of Malaysia (CCAM). The report provides a comprehensive review of the evolution of the Malaysian GBS industry; Malaysia as a strategic destination for high-value GBS; and, the country’s GBS roadmap. Get a copy of the report and nd out about the exciting developments in the local and regional tech landscape.

PIKOM is once again organising the second SEADragon, the premier sustainable venture pitch platform designed for start-ups and scale-ups that are looking for investments, growth, and global market expansion. With SEADragon at WCIT 2022 Malaysia we are looking for the top 20 Malaysian high growth techcompanies to be showcased to the world at the World Congress on Innovation and Technology (WCIT) 2022 Malaysia from 13-15 September this year. We will have global tech leaders, venture capitalists and investors at the nal pitching session with these ne companies. The main objective in running the SEADragon pitching series is to develop Malaysia’s homegrown unicorns, train them to pitch to potential local and global investors and develop global market access for them.

I look forward to seeing all of you at WCIT 2022, and let’s take the tech industry to the next level. Read all about PIKOM’s activities and latest happenings in this publication. Till we meet again at the next event.