Ugak (centre) officiates the opening of the conference while Prof Khairuddin (right) looks on.
Sarawak game developers can now access funding opportunities, participate in upskilling workshops and gain exposure to international markets.
“The collaboration with my ministry can help Sarawak harness its creative talent and drive economic growth within the digital and gaming industries,” said Deputy Digital Minister Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong.
He was speaking at the International Game Development Conference 2024 held at the Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud Chancellor’s Hall at University of Technology Sarawak (UTS), Sibu.
Ugak said the state could tap into the resources of the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) to develop its gaming sector.
He added that MDEC, an agency under the Digital Ministry, supports the gaming industry by providing various programmes and grants designed to nurture Malaysian talent, promote local game developers and attract international gaming companies to the country.
Ugak said the conference was very important, especially for Sarawak, as its rich cultural heritage and rapidly growing tech scene speaks of strong potential in the global gaming industry.
“This conference is proof of our commitment towards building a strong gaming community here in Sarawak.
“It’s a platform where local talent can shine, where our unique stories can be shared and where our tech advancements can be shown to the world,” he said.
Ugak expressed confidence that the conference would spark new ideas and build new partnerships.
UTS vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Khairuddin Abdul Hamid said the university would benefit from government support for esports.
“This includes providing support for us to promote esports, especially in terms of the need to recognise and regulate the activity.
“Perhaps we need a regulatory framework for esports to include areas such as policy, regulation, recognition, employment, economic impact and the effect of esports on those involved,” he said.
