Upbeat about hosting world IT meet in 2022

Chow (third left) gesturing the sign for ‘reframe technology’ at the closing of the three-day Techfest Live at Wisma Yeap Chor Ee in George Town, Penang. Joining him (from left) are Yew, Loo, Lee, Chin and Seah.

PENANG will host the World Congress Information Technology 2022 (WCIT 2022), which will be done physically as well as virtually to reach a bigger audience.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said this at the closing of the three-day Techfest Live: Road-to-WCIT 2022 at Wisma Yeap Chor Ee in George Town recently.

Malaysia last hosted WCIT in Kuala Lumpur in 2008.

“Techfest Live was planned as a hybrid event but it had to be done virtually due to the re-imposition of the conditional movement control order, ” he said.

“This three-day fest has given Penang and Malaysia the chance to be connected with the rest of the world and be a gateway to Southeast Asia by providing local start-ups and technology companies great exposure globally.

“The exposure given to our start-ups and technology companies is invaluable as not only were they given a platform to speak, some new companies were also able to showcase and share their solutions.

“There were 76 merchants from Penang who were given the opportunity to push their marketing promos on Astro and online to ensure maximum exposure, ” he said, adding that the state committed RM3mil in cash and kind to support the event.

Chow said he was pleased that a total of 3,800 users logged on the various platforms over the three days and he looked forward to holding WCIT 2022.

“WCIT is like the Olympics of the information and communications technology world. If held as a fully physical event, 3,000 to 4,000 participants from all over the world would come to Penang, especially World Information Technology Services Alliance (WITSA) members and friends from 80 countries.

“During Techfest Live, we had three streams of conversations on various topics and there were 250 speakers and panellists with 71,000 page views and 129 virtual booths.”

WCIT 2020 was initially slated to be held in Penang earlier but was postponed due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

The National Tech Association of Malaysia (Pikom) wanted to host it next year but Bangladesh was given the right to host it next year to mark its 50th year anniversary celebrations.

Present at Techfest Live were Penang Island City Council mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang, InvestPenang chief executive officer Datuk Loo Lee Lian, Pikom chairman Danny Lee, organising committee chairman Chin Chee Seong and WITSA board member Datuk Sean Seah.