Kuala Lumpur, 20 October 2023 — The Selangor Smart City & Digital Economy Convention (SDEC) welcomed a record-breaking 4,208 visitors on its opening day, and is expecting more than 15,000 over the next two days. Running till the 22nd of October 2023, at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) and part of the Selangor International Business Summit (SIBS), the Convention’s 8th edition will host over 120 exhibitors featuring a diverse array of cutting-edge technologies, innovative solutions, and transformative ideas focusing on the mechanisms of smart city and digital economies.
- The summit, which saw 4,208 visitors on the first day alone, aims to accelerate and unlock opportunities in digitalisation and sustainability, in alignment with Selangor’s vision to achieve Smart State status by 2025.
- SDEC 2023 will host over 120 exhibitors further reinforcing the event’s status as a prominent platform for fostering innovation, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas in the realms of smart cities, digital economy, and sustainable development.
- This year’s edition concludes with the Selangor Accelerator Programme Demo Day, whereby 20 startups will fiercely compete to secure their spot among the final 10 in a lively and inspiring pitching session
Themed “Revolutionising the Digital Landscape with AI, Net Zero, and Biotech”, SDEC 2023 aims to accelerate and unlock opportunities in digitalisation and sustainability, in alignment with Selangor’s vision to achieve Smart State status by 2025. As Malaysia progresses in its journey towards a more sustainable future, SDEC looks to provide businesses and SMEs with a one-stop platform to navigate the challenges on the road to net zero and digital transformation.
“This year’s 8th edition of SDEC is a milestone in its evolution. Our dedicated focus on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and their integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices highlights their potential to drive sustainable and inclusive growth in smart cities. At least five cities are targeted to be recognised as smart city early adopters by the year 2025. With SDEC we aim to speed up the progress enabling the nation as a whole to attract more investments,” said Yong Kai Ping, CEO of the Selangor Information Technology & Digital Economy Corporation (SIDEC).
Offering insightful dialogues on various topics and discussions, namely, SME Digitalisation Summit — Driving Million Dollar Growth in the Digital Era, SME ESG Summit —Accelerating Sustainable Transformation in Retail Supply Chains, and the AI, Net Zero & Biotech Investor Summit, the Conferences feature over 60 illustrious speakers including global tech giant and local leaders.
Among the many brands that were featured at the conference include our strategic partners such as Affin Bank, Lazada, Razer Merchant Services, Google, Microsoft, Nvidia, Intel, Alibaba Cloud, Pos Malaysia, Yinson, Celcomdigi, Maxis, Touch & Go, Fusionex, among others.
In recognition of the pivotal role funding plays in fostering technological growth, SDEC 2023 brings together a diverse array of funding agencies, including Malaysia Venture Capital Management Berhad (MAVCAP), Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (KWAP), Malaysia Technologies Development Corporation (MTDC), Malaysia Debts Ventures (MDV), Cradle, Xeraya Capital, RHL Ventures, and more, empowering SMEs to not merely endure, but thrive, while attracting millions of users and substantial revenue and funding.
Notable guests at SDEC 2023’s Opening Ceremony include YAB Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari, Selangor Chief Minister, and YB Ng Sze Han, Selangor State Executive Councilor for Investment, Trade and Mobility
The pinnacle of this year’s convention is the Selangor Accelerator Programme Demo Day, a spectacular event that promises to be both exhilarating and inspiring. 20 innovative startups will engage in fierce competition, each vying for the coveted opportunity to secure their place among the final 10. The Demo Day encapsulates the essence of the convention, as it champions forward-thinking innovations and champions the remarkable potential of startups, fostering an environment of growth, opportunity, and collaboration.
Organised by Sidec, the convention has witnessed a significant expansion, both in terms of its scale and its outreach, drawing a more extensive range of participants from diverse sectors such as technology specialists, decision-makers, innovators, and scholars. This growth has turned SDEC into a vital platform where industry leaders, startups, SMEs, and both public and private stakeholders convene to discuss the evolving landscape and emerging trends of digitalisation and sustainability.