NATION SET TO BE NET ICT EXPORTER IN 2011

By Nurul Jannah Kamaruddin

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 24 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's information and communication
technology (ICT) industry is expected to achieve a significant milestone in 2011
with the transformation of the country into a net ICT exporter.

Multimedia Development Corp (MDeC) chief executive officer, Datuk Badlisham
Ghazali, said undoubtedly, 2010 will be considered a year of recovery.

"After the global economic impact in 2009, the government and businesses
have become more cautious and this behaviour is especially apparent in the area
of all new investments, including ICT," he told Bernama in an interview here
Friday.

Badlisham said 2010 will be considered a solid one for the nation, with a
number of key developments that clearly signalled the government's seriousness
in transforming the country's economic framework to meet the challenges of an
innovative digital economy.

According to MDeC data, in 2009, MSC Malaysia contributed RM6 billion (US$1
= RM3.1) to the country's gross domestic product.

It recorded a revenue of RM24.8 billion of which RM7.17 billion was from
exports.

He said MDeC has outlined strategies under the MSC-Malaysia Phase Three with
the goal, starting from 2011, to transform Malaysia into a net ICT exporter from
a net importer now.

Badlisham said it will also see the transformation of Malaysia into a
knowledge-based society using ICT as an 'enabler' across all economic sectors to
drive the country's productivity and innovations to become a vibrant hub for
creation of ICT solutions.

"Phase three will also see MSC Malaysia developing the capabilities of top
local companies to enable them to strongly compete in the global arena," he
said.

He said Budget 2011 is good for the industry because its focused and
strategic measures will strengthen the eco-system, nurture talent and create a
culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Cisco Malaysia managing director, Anne Abraham, said this year, more of the
company's customers in the services, property, real estate, finance, education
and public sectors, used technology to transform their businesses and
industries.

"One of them is a strategic initiative with the Malaysian Investment
Development Authority to develop Cisco's manufacturing capabilities in
Penang state.

"A collaboration with MDeC has also been established between University of
Malaya on the Cisco Industrial Training Programme to develop skilled ICT
networking specialists for small and medium enterprises (SMEs)," she said.

In 2010 also saw UEM Land Holdings Bhd and Sime Darby Bhd adopted Cisco
Smart + Connected Communities model both for their Symphony Hills and Idea
House, as they created a connected community, she said.

She said companies in Malaysia are beginning to appreciate the value of
"cloud computing" as a means to reduce their operational costs, while increasing
mobility and productivity.

"Apart from cloud computing, data centre and desktop virtualisation will
continue to be the enabling technologies that support the expansion of local
businesses.

"Next year, we will see an increase in virtualisation options for
SMEs," she said.

NetApp Malaysia & Brunei country manager, Andy Khoo, said next year and the
years ahead will be pivotal, as the decisions IT leaders make will not have an
impact on how they compete but also the long-term success of their businesses.

"Visionary IT leaders will see opportunities in the exploration of data as
new sources of innovation," he said.

He said IT leaders must take advantage of technology to rethink and
re-architect business infrastructure.
-- BERNAMA