Residents in the rural areas, especially those in Ulu Baram, should prepare for digital economy and its impact, which should begin to reach them after the highly-anticipated Marudi Bridge project kicks off next year.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said upon the completion of the bridge that would span across Batang Baram, it would open direct connectivity between here and the interior of Baram and consequently, attract visitors to interesting sites across Ulu Baram.

“Today, if you want to promote tourism, you need to do it in a digital way – whether using virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) so that the Miri that we are promoting would look like the real one on social sites – this is a new way for us to attract visitors.

“Utilise the social media platforms well; upload (photos and information about) and introduce Miri to the world. You can also set the price of any tourism product. This is a new culture in our lives that we cannot avoid,” he spoke at the official opening of the ‘Taste of Borneo Carnival 2017’ at the Boulevard Mall here on Sunday, where he came with his wide Datin Patinggi Dato Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang.

Adding on, Abang Johari stressed that it is up to the rural folk here to be more creative in attracting visitors to their areas and also in marketing their products through digital economy.

Moreover, he said digital economy would also facilitate transactions like orders and payments to be done digitally.

“Even fresh vegetables from the rural areas can be sold digitally.”

Meanwhile, Abang Johari said Bank Negara’s decision to raise the maximum e-wallet balance for SarawakPay from RM200 to RM3,000 would boost the business and tourism industries in the state further.

“The cooperation between Sarawak and the Singapore government would link SarawakPay to SingaporePay,” he said, adding that this would be advantageous to both sides.

“We, the government, only provide the convenience and the means to facilitate business transactions – it is up to you to make it a success,” he added.

Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin, assemblymen Dennis Ngau (Telang Usan) and Kennedy Chukpai Ugon (Murum), Chinese Consul-General in Kuching Fu Jijun, Sarawak Islamic Information Centre chief executive officer Zabariah Matali, Federation of Orang Ulu Associations of Sarawak, Malaysia (Forum) president Antonio Khati Galis and event organising chairman Harry Lee Tian Song were present to witness the ceremony.

Source:
courtesy of THE BORNEO POST

by Jude Toyat

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