WITSA ORGANISES FIRST TRADE MISSION TO MALAYSIA

KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 (Bernama) -- The World Information Technology and
Services Alliance (WITSA) through its Global Trade Committee organised the first
trade mission here Monday.

The trade mission is aims to promote and facilitate global trade and
investment in information and communications technology (ICT) for the benefits
of WITSA members and the industry at large, it said in a statement.

The trade mission, hosted by the Association of the Computer and Multimedia
Industry Malaysia (Pikom), has attracted delegates from 10 countries, comprising
Bangladesh, Brunei, Croatia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria,
Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.

According to WITSA chairman Dan E Khoo, ICT is one of the fastest
growing industries with the power to enhance trade and enrich economies.

"As an industry itself, global ICT spending is projected to reach US$4.4
trillion (US$1.00=RM3.50) by 2011," he said.

Khoo said WITSA is determined to provide the platform "for buyers, sellers,
financiers and aggregators to gather and move the wheels of commerce".

"We have established a significant global of contacts and will leverage on
all our strengths to facilitate and promote a level playing field in encouraging
free trade in the global ICT economy," he said.

WITSA Global Trade Committee chairman Looi Kien Leong said its main
initiatives included developing a business-to-business matching portal,
organising trade missions for members and establishing business centres.

"We aim to not only help ICT company members gain access to some of the
fastest growing markets, but also assist them in springboarding their entry
to global markets," he said.

WITSA is a leading consortium of ICT industry association members from
nearly 70 economies around the world and its members represent more than 90
percent of the world ICT market.

-- BERNAMA