THE FUTURE

Lauching Ceremony of International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak 2025

OFFICIAL OPENING ADDRESS BY THE RIGHT HONOURABLE DATUK PATINGGI TAN SRI (DR.) ABANG HAJI ABDUL RAHMAN ZOHARI BIN TUN DATUK ABANG HAJI OPENG, PREMIER OF SARAWAK

CONFERENCE KEYNOTE

THE INTELLIGENCE EXPLOSION: WHEN AI BEATS HUMANS AT EVERYTHING BY JAMES BARRAT

PANEL SESSION: LIFE AFTER THE INTELLIGENCE EXPLOSION – WHAT SHOULD GOVERNMENTS DO NOW?

In the wake of an AI landscape where machines surpass human capabilities in knowledge, prediction, and decision-making, how should governments adapt? This panel brings together regional leaders from Malaysia’s National AI Office, Sarawak AI Centre, Singapore’s AI governance ecosystem, and the Philippines’ Department of Science and Technology to confront the policy, infrastructure, and trust challenges that the “intelligence explosion” will accelerate. The discussion will explore how Southeast Asian governments can build agile regulatory frameworks, invest in resilient talent pipelines, and align AI deployment with national security, economic competitiveness, and community wellbeing — ensuring that humans stay at the centre of this transformative age.

PANEL SESSION: Investing in the Age of AI & Climate Crisis – Where Will Capital Flow?

As the convergence of advanced AI and urgent climate imperatives reshapes markets, investors are under pressure to find opportunities that balance high-growth returns with long-term sustainability and resilience. This panel gathers leading venture capitalists and impact investors to discuss where capital is moving now: from deep tech and climate-smart startups to AI solutions that drive decarbonisation, circularity, and community impact. The conversation will unpack shifting investor priorities, emerging risk factors, and what founders in the region need to know to attract funding in this dual transformation era — all with Sarawak and ASEAN’s readiness to position themselves as credible, competitive investment destinations.

Spotlight Talks: Tech That Matters – Use Cases from the Frontlines

SYNOPSIS: In a world awash with big ideas about AI and green evolution, this TED Talk–style session cuts through the theory to showcase real projects already making a difference on the ground. From a Sarawak-based initiative transforming local agriculture, utilities, or rural electrification through AI; to an ASEAN city pilot tackling urban challenges like waste, mobility, or climate monitoring with IoT; to an energy or circular economy solution that turns sustainability goals into measurable results; and finally, a community-driven project or youth founder story that proves local innovation can build resilience where it’s needed most — these frontline stories highlight what’s possible when technology directly serves people, communities, and the planet. Get inspired by tangible use cases, and see where collaboration and investment can take these ideas further.

PANEL SESSION: REBUILDING TRUST – AI, SOCIETY AND THE PUBLIC GOOD

As AI systems grow more powerful, the gap between technological progress and public trust continues to widen. This session brings together civic leaders, policy experts, industry voices, and community champions to ask: How can we ensure that AI remains accountable, inclusive, and aligned with the public good? From algorithmic bias to data privacy, digital divides, and human oversight, this conversation will explore practical actions governments, companies, and communities must take to rebuild trust in AI — and ensure it strengthens, rather than erodes, our social fabric.

MINISTERIAL INSIGHT ADDRESS

By DATO SRI HAJI JULAIHI HAJI NARAWI, MINISTER OF UTILITY AND TELECOMMUNICATION SARAWAK

OPENING KEYNOTE: Resilient by Design: Shaping Inclusive Futures in an AI-Driven World

SYNOPSIS: As cities, economies, and communities face an era of accelerated AI capabilities, climate volatility, and systemic shocks, resilience is no longer a static goal — it must be actively designed into the fabric of how we live, work, and grow. In this keynote, Dr. Ayesha Khanna will explore what it means to build societies that are both technologically advanced and fundamentally inclusive. Drawing on examples from smart cities, predictive infrastructure, and digital community networks across Asia and beyond, she will unpack how AI, data, and people-powered innovation can strengthen our capacity to adapt, recover, and thrive. From talent readiness to ethical design and cross-sector partnerships, this session will challenge leaders to shape futures that put resilience, trust, and human wellbeing at the centre of the digital evolution.

SOLO: Worried about AI? Cybersecurity is still living in the 2000s

While the industry chases the next hype cycle, attackers continue to recycle techniques that have been effective for decades. In this session, we’ll walk through real incidents from the past twenty years and compare them with what we see in today’s breaches. The patterns are clear: the storylines have changed, but the playbook hasn’t. The talk challenges the audience to step back from the noise and ask if we’re still struggling to fix the basics, what business do we have worrying about the “future” of security?

PANEL SESSION: Community-Driven Innovation for a Resilient Future

SYNOPSIS: While national policies and big infrastructure matter, real resilience starts on the ground — in communities that co-create solutions for their own needs. This panel highlights how local changemakers, youth leaders, civic tech innovators, and social enterprises are using AI, data, and digital tools to strengthen resilience in ways that are practical, inclusive, and rooted in local context. From climate adaptation in rural villages to community-owned smart utilities and grassroots digital upskilling, this conversation will unpack what it really takes to unlock community-driven innovation that can scale — and why putting people at the centre is critical for a future that works for everyone.

PANEL SESSION: Why Sarawak? The Investor’s Lens on Resilient Digital Economies

SYNOPSIS: As capital shifts towards opportunities that deliver both growth and resilience, regions like Sarawak are stepping up to position themselves as credible, investable destinations for the next wave of digital and green transformation. This panel brings together leading venture capitalists and global investors to share candid perspectives on what they look for when placing bets in emerging markets, especially in Southeast Asia. They’ll unpack what makes a digital economy resilient and scalable, what signals attract international capital, and what Sarawak must do to stand out in an increasingly competitive landscape — from talent readiness and governance to real proof-of-concept use cases that deliver impact at scale.

EXHIBITION AND NETWORKING LUNCH

Sarawak Sovereign AI

LEADERS FORUM: Making Sarawak’s Digital & Green Projects Bankable

SYNOPSIS: This sequel session gathers Sarawak’s key agency heads and enablers to share real updates on investible projects coming online in the next 3–5 years. It will spotlight flagship initiatives in smart utilities, digital infrastructure, renewable energy, AI centres, and rural digitalisation — but with a focus on how Sarawak is turning plans into bankable, scalable projects. Expect a frank discussion about what’s working, what partnerships are needed, and how Sarawak is positioning itself as an investible hub for resilient, inclusive growth.

CLOSING KEYNOTE

DELIVERING THE PROMISE: TURNING SARAWAK'S AI & GREEN AMBITION INTO INVESTIBLE REALITY