Keb 2024: Platform For Bumiputera To Explore digital Technology In Expanding Halal Industry

By Mohd Ashraf Syafiq Mazlan

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 20 (Bernama) -- The 2024 Bumiputera Economic Congress (KEB 2024) scheduled for Feb 29 to March 2 is the right platform for the Bumiputera to explore new economic opportunities, especially in digital technology to further strengthen the nation’s halal industry.

President of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce of Malaysia (DPIM) Mohammad Sahar Mat Din told Bernama that the Bumiputera entrepreneurs need to focus on the digital technology-driven economy sector which is burgeoning rapidly at the moment.

“If we look at today’s new market, it is an economy undergoing digital transformation, which is a new leap. If we look at it in general, the statistics show a 23 per cent increase in the growth of this digital economy.

"Apart from that, the companies that dominate the market today are technology-based companies like Apple and Amazon. So too in the context of the Malaysian economy, it’s the same, which is that the fastest growing are technology-based companies,” he said.

Last Feb 14, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, at a media briefing after attending the Pre-launch Ceremony of KEB 2024, said the three-day event will delve into new technologies and economic opportunities to empower the Bumiputera community in the country.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister, said among the topics to be discussed at the congress secretariat level is strengthening institutions and agencies related to the Bumiputera economy that has existed since the first KEB in 1965.

A total of 10 clusters covering 10 sectors will be established in KEB 2024, namely Education Reform and Human Capital; Institution of Technical, Vocational Education and Training (Main Career Choice) and Strengthening of Halal Industry.

Other clusters are Rural Development and  Empowerment of Orang Asli Communities; Wealth Creation and Corporate Dominance; Competitiveness of Bumiputera Enterprises; Mastery of New Technologies; Felda and Federal Territory Land; Socioeconomy of Sabah Bumiputera and Socioeconomy of Sarawak Bumiputera.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Sahar regarded the introduction of the cluster on strengthening the halal industry as apt in efforts to strengthen and further increase Bumiputera's participation in the field.

"The position of the Bumiputera has not yet reached a satisfactory level, it is appropriate that the halal industry cluster be emphasised so that in the future there will be a significant increase in the participation of the Bumiputera," he said.

He emphasised that Malaysia must be elevated into an advanced nation of entrepreneurship and the Bumiputera also need to be brave enough to venture into business which is on par with other groups at large.

The three-day congress at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) here is targeting a congregation of 3,000 participants and will also include representatives from the Malay, Kadazan, Dusun, Iban and Dayak business chambers as well as representatives from the Orang Asli community.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is reported to have said that the organisation of KEB 2024 will be more inclusive with the hope of getting cooperation and mutual support from the Chinese and Indian communities to help tackle the problem of poverty.

-- BERNAMA