KUCHING: Governments and businesses can no longer focus solely on economic growth and job creation as they face increasingly complex global challenges.
World Economic Forum (WEF) Managing Director, Gim Huay Neo, said organisations today must also address sustainability, resilience, energy security and supply chain risks while navigating a rapidly changing global landscape.
She said this is why industrial clusters have become so important as it provides a platform for alignment.
“They bring together like-minded stakeholders to collectively address infrastructure needs, talent development, financing challenges and investment opportunities. More importantly, they enable organisations to work together in tackling shared challenges and pursuing common goals,” she said.
She said this during the launching ceremony for ‘Sarawak Transitioning Industrial Cluster (TIC): Malaysia First Cluster Under the World Economic Forum – Bintulu A Gateway to ASEAN’s Next Energy & Industrial Frontier’ at BCCK today (June 11).
Despite global uncertainties, Neo said the Asia-Pacific region remains well-positioned for future growth.
She pointed out that Asia currently contributes around 60 per cent of global GDP growth and is home to a young and increasingly technology-savvy population.
“Our surveys indicate that younger populations are often more optimistic about emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. They are willing to experiment, embrace change and explore new possibilities.
“This openness is a significant advantage as we prepare for the future. Furthermore, Asia remains one of the world’s most peaceful and stable regions, providing governments and businesses with the confidence to plan for the long term – a critical factor for attracting investment and driving sustainable growth,” she said.
Neo also highlighted the importance of maintaining strong people-to-people and business-to-business connections, noting that trust and cooperation are often the foundation of successful partnerships.
She said platforms such as TIC Sarawak create opportunities for stakeholders to strengthen relationships, exchange ideas and explore new avenues for collaboration.
“The true measure of success will not be today’s launch. Success will be determined by whether we can build stronger trust, establish meaningful partnerships, mobilise investments, and generate tangible outcomes,” she added.
