PUTRAJAYA APRIL 8: The tremendous potential of youth combined with technology can create new opportunities and subsequently contribute towards economic recovery.
Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said, with a dynamic youth population of 550 million, the D-8 Member States could revitalise its economies by empowering youth with digital skills and harnessing digital businesses and entrepreneurship.
Muhyiddin said, the theme for this year’s D-8 Summit, “Partnership for a Transformative World: Harnessing the Power of Youth and Technology is indeed fitting.
Elaborating on that the Prime Minister said, the Malaysian government has launched a specifically designed programme to empower Malaysia’s youth directly affected by the pandemic.
“The New Gen Entrepreneur Online Bootcamp is a technology-based training and business coaching programme for youth entrepreneurs that could benefit Malaysia’s youth in the long term.
“It is one of the initiatives under the government USD4.8 billion post pandemic recovery stimulus package,” said Muhyiddin in his statement at the 10th Developing Eight (D-8 ) Summit (Virtual) hosted by Bangladesh today.
Present at the Summit was Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and Chair of D-8 Summit, Sheikh Hasina Wazed, Heads of State and Heads of Government of D-8 Member States and Secretary General of D-8, Datuk Ku Jaafar Ku Shaari.
The Prime Minister added, digital content creation is another up and coming industry that has attracted Malaysia’s youth and rapidly maturing. The digital creative industry which includes animations, movies and video games is proving to be a significant growth drive for the nation.
“We have the right mix of talent for animation and creative content industry and they have access to enablers that can help our local creators market their content to the global audience,” said Muhyiddin.
Muhyiddin added, Malaysian youth involvement in agriculture has been on the increase. Smart farming has rapidly becoming the future of agriculture. The food supply chain can be improved by introducing enabling technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT) or traceability systems that have the potential to increase food safety and production transparency.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also changed the conventional way of learning and in this respect Muhyiddin said, the government has introduced initiatives to soften the impact including improving the digital platform infrastructure for online learning.
“It includes greater last mile connectivity in schools across rural and remote areas through stronger fibre optic connectivity and providing 150,000 laptops together with a free limited data package for students from low-income family, to ensure that their education is not disrupted,” Muhyiddin reiterated.
In the statement, the Prime Minister proposes the possibility of having Reciprocal COVID-19 Vaccine Certificate Recognition among D-8Member States which he believes would speed up the reopening of the hardest-hit sectors.
Muhyiddin added, the Dhaka Declaration and the D-8 Decennial Roadmap for 2020-2030 which will be adopted today will serve as a basis for transforming and guide the work of D-8 for the betterment of the people.
“The adopted documents would provide an opportunity for the D-8 Member States to renew our cooperation and commitment towards achieving our shared vision,” he added. – Malaysia World News
