MDeC, Malaysia to expand presence in Middle East and increase strategic ICT collaboration with the region through GITEX 2006

With the Middle East region witnessing resurgence in fresh energy projects and booming telecom and real estate markets, MDeC will seek to attract key IT services and technology implementation projects to the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC), Malaysia.

Over the coming financial year, MSC Malaysia Status companies will target and fulfill projects worth over AED 200 million from the Middle East. These projects will be executed across Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, U.A.E, Egypt, Qatar, Oman and Yemen. Some of the prestigious ones include Smart Card systems for the Ministries of Hajj and Interior in Saudi, Court Systems and Smart School content in the U.A.E and Oman, e-procurement systems, Human Resource Management systems and also cooperation in Islamic content and entertainment in Egypt.

"Over the coming year, MDeC's goal will be to help build Malaysia's role as a strategic IT partner to organizations in the Middle East. We have the capability and the resources and we share commonalities in our visions for growth and development. This strengthens our position as a key provider of technology products and services to the region," said Badlisham Ghazali, CEO, MDeC. He added, "We will also seek to provide organizations in the Middle East, the ideal support towards enabling them to expand and set up operations in MSC, Malaysia".

At the Malaysia pavilion at GITEX, MDeC will promote exports of MSC Malaysia services in key areas including Islamic banking, financial market quotes, data & news information, multimedia content, telecommunication, logistics, telehealth and e-Government. In addition, the participating companies will also showcase their expertise in digital multimedia broadcasting systems, smart cards, e-security products and applications, rechargeable energy storage solutions and mobile and wireless technologies. MSC Malaysia with its strength in shared services and outsourcing hopes to share its experience with the Middle East partners. AT Kearney and Frost and Sullivan had ranked Malaysia as the third most attraction destination for shared services and outsourcing after China and India.

Another key participant at the MSC Malaysia pavilion will be WCIT 2008 Sdn Bhd, promoters of the World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT). The event, scheduled to take place on May 18 - 22, 2008 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia will be hosted for the first time in South East Asia. WCIT 2008 will seek to attract leading technology providers and adopters in the Middle East to participate in the premier global ICT forum held once every two years for business networking and the exchange of policies, ideas and technology.

In all 16 MSC Malaysia-status companies participated at GITEX 2006 to showcase the best of what Malaysia has to offer as well as to network with their foreign partners through business to business meetings (B2B) held during the course of the event. MDeC's participation at GITEX will provide an opportune platform for MSC Malaysia-status companies to explore investment opportunities in the Middle East and to forge business collaboration and joint ventures with companies in the region. Malaysia's participation over the last two years had been encouraging with a number of deals being cemented between MSC Malaysia-status companies and Middle East corporations.

Since its implementation in 1996, MSC Malaysia has attracted leading world class companies to locate and use its facilities for research, product and technology development for export and local adoption. As on Oct 31, 2006, there are a total of 1,634 MSC Malaysia status companies of which 77 are global corporations.

The Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) has been given the mandate by the Malaysian Government for the coordination, promotion and development of the information communication technology (ICT) industry and selected services in MSC Malaysia. Incorporated under the Companies Act of Malaysia, owned and funded by the Government, MDeC advises the Malaysian government on ICT legislation and policies develops MSC Malaysia -specific practices and sets world-class standards for the MSC Malaysia's information infrastructure and urban development. In addition, MDeC accelerates the growth of the MSC Malaysia as a global ICT hub by attracting world class companies and nurturing Malaysian SMEs, globally markets the MSC Malaysia and works with government entities and private organizations to ensure that the MSC Malaysia continues to be the nucleus for innovation in the region for the creation of outstanding ICT products, solutions and services.