The centre-stage of the three-day event was the SC’s investor education fair, Bersama InvestSmart^® @Sarawak 2022, which is targeted at equipping retail investors with financial knowledge to help them make informed investing decisions.

YAB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg, Premier of Sarawak, delivered the opening speech at Bersama InvestSmart^® @Sarawak. The event, attended by other senior state leaders and financial industry captains, was held at Vivacity Megamall in Kuching from 17 to 18 September.

With the theme ‘Silap Labur Duit Lebur’, the event featured 28 exhibitors including Bank Negara Malaysia, Bursa Malaysia, Securities Industry Dispute Resolution Centre, Federation of Investment Managers Malaysia, Private Pension Administrator Malaysia, SME Corp and SME Bank.

Since its inception in 2014, InvestSmart^® has engaged almost two million people via various platforms through seminars, roadshows, and community engagements as well as digital channels.

SC Chairman Dato’ Seri Dr. Awang Adek Hussin said resource-rich Sarawak is in a strong position to help drive the sustainability agenda.

“Sarawak is a land of great abundance, and it holds immense promise,” he said at the launch of Bersama InvestSmart^® @Sarawak today. “Well-endowed naturally, Sarawak has significant comparative advantage to be in this space, including in renewable energy and carbon market. I am personally very excited to be here today for this reason,” he said.

The SC is also organising a forum in Kuching on 19 September to promote sustainable and responsible investment and financing. The forum will discuss how state agencies and businesses in Sarawak can tap into the sustainability sukuk and bond markets to address ESG aspects.

The forum is part of the ‘NaviGate Capital Market Green Financing Series’, the SC’s flagship programme established to create awareness on connectivity between the capital market and companies seeking funding avenues for their sustainability initiatives.

The SC also held a special panel session on ‘Alternative Financing’ for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to help educate them on the various options of alternative and sustainable financing.

The options include equity crowdfunding (ECF) and peer-to-peer (P2P) financing to help fund and grow their businesses.

While in Sarawak, the SC also organised its Agen Bijak Labur Desa¹  (ABJAD) programme as part of its public outreach initiative for the rural population. The programme was held at SMK Muara Tuang, Samarahan and SMK Lundu.

A digital clinic programme for urban B40 was also held at Pusat Ekonomi Digital at PPR Taman Sri Wangi in Kuching. This is to help raise digital literacy among the B40 households and at the same time protect them from falling victim to scams.