DUBAI: Malaysia can enhance collaborations towards increased adoption of high technology and innovation, smart manufacturing, and all matters integral to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0), Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa said.

The signing of 13 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between Malaysian companies and their international tech counterparts today would allow Malaysian companies to expand their global footprints, and bring about a collaborative transfer of technology and knowledge that will strengthen Malaysia's digital technology ecosystem, he added.

"With the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), the Government of Malaysia will continue to drive the digital economy forward towards making Malaysia a globally competitive digital nation, anchored on innovation, sustainability and shared prosperity, and firmly establishing the country as the digital hub of ASEAN (the Association of South East Asian Nations).

"Key to the achievement of this vision would be collaborations. Effective collaborations will lead to successful innovations," he said at the Malaysia Ecosystem and Industry Celebration here last night.

The Malaysian companies that signed the MoUs include Aerodyne Group, CALMS Technologies and Soft Space, with international partners, National Bonds Corporation of UAE and Qatar Financial Centre Authority.

He said these companies are poised to be global leaders in their respective sectors, Aerodyne Group , for instance, was ranked third globally in a report by Drone Industry Insights in 2019, and has been at the forefront of the drone industry.

"This only goes to show that the pandemic did not stop these Malaysian companies from seeking opportunities, domestically and globally, signalling the resilience of our businesses and the ongoing global interest in Malaysia's digital technology innovations," he said.

Annuar said the government and MDEC were working hard to ensure tremendous opportunities and also made sure that the government would constantly be engaged in delivering the digital mandate.

"I am confident that with the announcement of the new Malaysia Digital initiative this morning at the Malaysia Pavilion and all the unique value propositions that we can offer, the world will find Malaysia fertile ground for growth and serve as the perfect platform from which businesses can grow into the wider ASEAN region and beyond," he said.

"Batik Girl is the embodiment of Malaysian animation history, carrying the legacy of entertainment that Malaysian parents or their children are so well-versed in and fond of.

"The success of Batik Girl and the development of its artbook is also a testament to Malaysia's growing digital creative content industry, which is currently worth almost USD2 billion or RM8 billion...I am confident Durioo's approach will bear fruit and its products will become great hits," Annuar said.

-- BERNAMA