KUALA LUMPUR: The government intends to elevate Kuala Lumpur to become one of the world's top 20 cities for providing an optimal environment to nurture startup ventures.
Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said the goal will be pursued through KL20, a blueprint scheduled for unveiling this year.
He said the worldwide landscape has undergone a significant shift, opening doors for creativity and investment in emerging technologies and the creation of solutions for rapidly expanding markets.
"Malaysia is strategically positioned to capitalise on these opportunities, with its vibrant tech ecosystem, skilled workforce, and supportive regulatory environment," he added.
Gobind said in line with the Madani aspirations, the ministry aims to cultivate a supportive technology ecosystem that empowers stakeholders to innovate and develop solutions that bring about positive societal impact.
"We are committed to facilitating more discussions and assisting where needed. The main focus is on how we can contribute to facilitating these discussions and supporting the ecosystem," he told reporters today.
Gobind added that it can help boost the digital economy, which is expected to increase to 25.5 per cent at the end of 2025, marking a 2.0 per cent uptick in the previous year.
He was speaking at Endeavour Malaysia's Tech Nexus, a one-day event aimed at fostering connections and embracing innovation among visionary founders and key industry players.
The panel discussion on 'Malaysia's Digital Transformation: Government Initiatives and Tech Investments" features Penjana Kapital Sdn Bhd chairman Tunku Alizakri, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation senior vice president Raymond Siva, Malaysian Investment Development Authority board member Dr. Ong Kian Ming, Watchtower Advisory founder and managing director Shahril Hamdan.
The session was moderated by Ghazanfar Iqbal, the head of business development for startups in Malaysia, Pakistan and Singapore at Amazon Web Services.