Malaysia Board of Technologists president Datuk Dr Siti Hamisah Tapsir (centre) presenting a souvenir to Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg (left) at the Borneo Symposium in Kuching.
KUCHING: Sarawak aims to register 10,000 technicians and technologists by 2025 to spearhead the state's transition towards a green economy, says Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said Sarawak currently had 3,291 registered professionals with the Malaysia Board of Technologists (MBOT), comprising 1,961 graduate technologists, 722 professional technologists, 461 qualified technicians and 147 certified technicians.
"So we need another 6,000-odd technologists. I hope we can achieve our target by 2025, which is quite a tall order, but at least by 2030 we must have sufficient technologists.
"We need these technicians and technologists in our efforts to create sustainability in line with the three pillars of our post-Covid-19 development strategy 2030, which are economic prosperity, social inclusivity and environmental sustainability," he said when opening MBOT's Borneo Symposium here on Thursday (May 11).
Abang Johari said he welcomes initiatives by MBOT to enhance the capacity of technologists and technicians in Sarawak.
"I want industry players, education and skills development institutions as well as government agencies to work together in promoting and developing technological talents.
"Trade associations and learned societies must also play their role in this journey," he said.
Abang Johari also said Sarawak aimed to double the state's gross domestic product (GDP) from RM136bil in 2019 to RM282bil in 2030 while creating an additional 195,000 jobs.
He said this required the state's economy to grow by 6-8% annually, a "quantum leap" from the current growth rate of 3-4%.
"To achieve this, we only have one option, which is to transform the state into an innovative and tech-driven economy.
"I am optimistic we are on the right track, as our GDP per capita has increased from RM55,931 in 2020 to RM65,971 in 2021.
"The various science and technology projects and initiatives introduced by the state government will also give significant impact and improve the livelihood of the people," he said.
