Focus On Public-Private Collaborations To Achieve Vision 2020/25 : IDC Asean

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 15 (Bernama) – International Data Corporation (IDC) ASEAN has urged the government to focus on public-private collaborations in information and communications technology (ICT) to achieve Vision 2020/25. IDC ASEAN Managing Director Sudev Bangah said as Malaysia aims to establish a scientific and progressive society, it requires cutting-edge research, innovations and technologies. “Ultimately, the public sector should start considering how the ICT industry could fully benefit from the digital economy, while creating economic areas for new growth, whether in jobs, sectors or physical locations,” he said in a statement Wednesday. He added the joint effort between the public and private sector would create the foundation to increase the gross domestic product (GDP), foreign investment, technological experience and expertise in the country. Meanwhile, IDC Asia Pacific Research Director Internet of Things (IoT) and Telecommunication Randy Roberts said Malaysia is one of those countries that has organically moved towards the utilisation of ICT. “The new government should implement new ways to achieve the vision, especially in areas of research and development, infrastructure and science and technology,” he said. He added that although Malaysia is still ahead of most developing countries in digital readiness, the government should set an aggressive objective to be equivalent to leading countries in the region such as South Korea and Singapore. “IDC urges the expansion of wired and wireless broadband networks to provide improved Internet access to consumers as well as local enterprises, which will contribute to the growth in online services such as e-commerce, online banking and real-time news and information,” Roberts said. According to IDC’s Market Perspective: Nations and Internet of Things: A Comparative Assessment, Malaysia was ranked eight out of 13 Asia Pacific countries in terms of IoT Readiness based on nations’ GDP, government effectiveness, loT spending and lCT spending. As for this year’s World Digital Competitiveness Ranking, Malaysia slipped three spots to 27th from 24th last year. -- BERNAMA