Malaysia launches De Rantau to accelerate digital economy

•  Programme set to benefit both local talents, foreign nomads
• To position Malaysia as preferred digital nomad hub in Asean

The communications and multimedia ministry (K-KOMM) has launched DE Rantau, a programme aimed at establishing Malaysia as the preferred digital nomad hub to boost digital adoption and promote digital professional mobility and tourism across Malaysia.

In a joint statement with Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), both parties said the programme is intended to benefit both local talents and foreign nomads. 

They added that apart from the introduction of the DE Rantau nomad pass, which will support the facilitation of foreign digital nomads’ stay in Malaysia for a period of 12 months.

K-KOMM through MDEC will create a vibrant ecosystem that can support the digital nomad lifestyle to be able to regain the balance in working and living, they said.

K-KOMM minister Annuar Musa said the DE Rantau programme, aligned with Malaysia Digital, will help solidify Malaysia’s path to becoming the preferred digital nomad hub of the Asean region. 

“Despite facing close competition with our neighbours, Malaysia has all the right ingredients to be the most attractive choice for digital nomads.

“While the digital nomad lifestyle is nothing new, it is the pandemic that accelerated the trend of more people choosing to embrace a location-independent, tech-enabled lifestyle, allowing them to work and live wherever their hearts desire,” said Annuar.

Driving this initiative, MDEC will oversee the development of digital nomad hubs and comprehensive local ecosystems suitable for the digital nomad lifestyle. 

This will be done in collaboration with various industry players as well as the onboarding of digital nomads via outreach and awareness programmes and visa facilitation of DE Rantau Nomad Pass, K-KOMM said.

The programme is expected to inject a total of US$1.064 billion (RM4.8 billion) into the local economy by the year 2025, K-KOMM said.

Applications for DE Rantau Nomad Pass will be open on October. Click here to register.