KUCHING: Sarawak is looking into introducing e-residency for foreign investors and professionals to remotely manage their operations in Sarawak from their home countries.
Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said it would be modelled after Estonia's e-residency, a government-issued digital identity that gives global entrepreneurs remote access to the Estonian business environment and services.
"We currently give five-year work permits to foreign professionals to work here but this is a temporary measure.
"What we want to do next is e-residency, so that foreign experts and professionals can manage their operations here while based in their own countries," he said when launching the Tun Abang Haji Openg digital centre at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) on Friday (Aug 4).
Abang Johari said e-residency would also make it easier for foreign investors and professionals to enter Sarawak.
"We will give them a special pass to come in and out, but there will be terms and conditions to be met," he said.
Abang Johari later told reporters that the state government would work with industries and embassies to screen applicants for the programme.
He said the e-residency proposal would have to be approved by the Sarawak Legislative Assembly first before it could be implemented.
However, he did not say when it would be brought to the state legislature.
"This is something new. We have to study it and come up with a model," he added.
