Perak govt unveils two strategic plans to enhance its digital economy

The Star

04-06-2025

IPOH: The Perak government marked a new milestone with the unveiling of two strategic plans aimed at transforming the state into an inclusive, sustainable and competitive smart state driven by a digital economy.
The plans - Perak Digital Economy Action Plan 2030 and the Perak State Smart City Blueprint 2040 - were launched by Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad on Wednesday (June 4).
Both plans are designed to strengthen digital infrastructure, empower human capital and stimulate innovation and technology investment towards comprehensive and high-impact socio-economic development.
Saarani, in his speech, said the digital economy and smart city development plans are complementary, with the former providing technology, policy direction, and talent, while the latter supports growth through infrastructure, data access, and demand for digital solutions.
He said the simultaneous launch of both plans marks a key step towards building a more efficient, resilient, and high-quality urban environment, with a positive impact on Perak's socio-economic development.
'We are now in an era of rapid digital transformation, and if we act too slowly, we will be left behind.
'That is why the digital economy agenda has been identified as one of the nine main agendas under the Perak Sejahtera 2030 Plan.
'Our goal is clear: to build an inclusive, resilient, and sustainable economy,' he said in his speech before launching the plans at a hotel here on Wednesday.
Saarani added that the contribution of the digital sector is highly significant to the state's economic growth.
He said this sector contributed approximately 15%, or RM12bil of the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of RM80.2bil in 2022.
'By 2030, the sector's contribution is expected to increase significantly, with projected growth of between RM2bil and RM4.2bil to the state's GDP, in line with the economic transition towards digitalisation.
'This projected growth is aligned with the national target of achieving a 25% contribution from the digital economy to the country's overall GDP by 2030,' he said.
Saarani said in fact, it is also expected to create between 3,000 and 6,000 new job opportunities and assist in the digitalisation of 18,000 micro, small and medium enterprises.
He said the plans focus on four main pillars: access to quality digital infrastructure, efficient digital public administration, a digitally driven business ecosystem, and a digitally empowered society.
'A total of 21 programmes have been identified, with five catalyst projects given priority.
'To ensure the success of both plans is felt broadly, the development of the people, especially youth, must not be overlooked.
'The state government is committed to inclusive and competitive youth development across various economic sectors.
'We aim for 55% of SPM leavers to pursue Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) by 2025,' he said.
Saarani said he believed the vision of making Perak a resilient, inclusive, and advanced digital state would become a reality.
'Let us continue strengthening this synergy for the benefit of both current and future generations,' he added.