INVESTMENT AND TECHNOLOGY MUST KEEP UP WITH THE CURRENT SITUATION
UUM ONLINE: "Technology and investment should move together or in tandem according to the current situation and be sustainable, not only for today but also for the future," said Mdm. Emilia Tee, Director, Group Sustainability, Bursa Malaysia Berhad, who represented the Chief Executive Officer of Bursa Malaysia at the opening of Investment Month yesterday via Webex and UUM SEFB FB Live.
According to her, Malaysia's economy and market have been affected over the last two years due to a change in the investment landscape caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has changed the way people interact with one another, resulting in very limited physical interaction.
She stated that since then, many transactions and daily activities have been conducted online, and that trade and industry activities are also affected.
"This pandemic has inadvertently compelled Bursa Malaysia to employ new, beneficial technologies such as Big Data, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and blockchain.
"The use of this technology accelerates the process, reduces costs, and allows more investors to be reached, not just locally but globally.
"I am confident that, in order to sustain future growth, our country can increase productivity, stimulate innovation, and improve life by adapting digitization and technological development through the implementation of transformation," she said.
According to Mdm. Emilia, due to the pandemic, Bursa Malaysia, continues to develop and improve policies to encourage investors through sustainable and competitive investment products and services.
In fact, in order to promote better financial literacy throughout society, Bursa Malaysia has launched Bursa Academy, a financial and investment literacy learning platform for the general public.
Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Haim Hilman Abdullah stated that Investment Month is a School of Economics, Finance, and Banking (SEFB) initiative designed to educate students, staff, and the community about financial and investment practises.
"Investment Month is an excellent platform for sharpening the minds of investors, particularly students, and providing them with skill sets for future professional careers.
"When one considers the world's rapidly growing digital economy, it is one of the most important drivers of innovation, competitiveness, and growth. The advancement and adoption of digital technologies and business models will enable companies to achieve greater scale, enter new markets more quickly, and better understand their customers," he said.
In February 2021, the government launched MyDIGITAL, a national initiative that represents the government's goal of transforming Malaysia into a digitally-driven, high-income country and regional leader in the digital economy.
According to the action plan, digital technology is expected to be a new driver for the country's economy in the coming decade, accounting for 22.6 percent of GDP by 2025.
Haim Hilman also expressed hope that the initiative, which involves both local and international students, will be able to foster an investor mind set and 'anti-fragile' characteristics in this new era of digitalization.
"I fervently hope that professionals, alumni, and students who participate in this programme will take advantage of the opportunities to gain experience and build a good network for future collaboration or partnership," he said.
Prof. Dr. Iftekhar Hasan, Bursa Chair Professor, also gave a keynote speech entitled 'Investment Awareness: Empowering Financial Digitalization’ and ‘Financial Literacy: Financial Digitalization and Young Generation'.
There were also Industrial Talk, Alumni Talk, Financial Literacy (Young Generation), Overview of Financial Markets and Financial Instruments, and Investment Game events held in conjunction with Investment Month.