GEORGE TOWN – More than 4,500 delegates from 80 countries are expected to arrive in Penang for the three-day World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) 2022 conference in September.
National Tech Association of Malaysia (Pikom) chairman Sean Seah said while the event will be conducted in a hybrid manner, he hopes that the Immigration Department will allow delegates to congregate during the event.
“This technology festival will be a different kind of tech fest, because it will focus on technology for the betterment of humankind.
“This will involve social inclusion, usage of tech to improve the quality of life in rural areas, and not just technology,” he said during the press conference held at the chief minister’s office today.
WCIT was scheduled to be held in Penang in 2020 after Malaysia was chosen as host. It last organised the event in 2008.
However, the state was awarded a second chance after the conference was postponed to 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
While prepping for the WCIT 2022, Penang held a virtual three-day Techfest Live in November 2020, featuring Road-to-WCIT 2022.
“Now it is our turn to shine. We are eight months away from the event, and as we count down towards the event, each month, week and day is becoming increasingly critical,” said Seah.
Among global speakers to headline WCIT 2022 are strategic futurist Nancy Giordano, cybersecurity expert Mary-jo de Leeuw, Oxford University dean-elect and Network Readiness Index co-author Soumitra Dutta, and Nasa Deputy CFO Douglas Comstock.
“This is a start to the many more exciting speakers who will be revealed in the weeks to come,” he said.
Organising chairman of WCIT 2022, Cheah Kok Hoong said that the team will be rolling out its marketing plans via roadshows, as well as engaging with heads of the various sectors and industry partners to partake in this event in the next couple of weeks.
The last time WCIT was held in Malaysia, the country recorded RM8.3 billion in tech investments, creating 20,000 related jobs.
More information on WCIT 2022, such as delegate registration, sponsorship opportunities and exhibitor inquiries, is available on this website. – The Vibes, January 21, 2021
