MALAYSIA AND PAKISTAN COLLABORATING ON IT PROJECTS

By Sajad Hussein

KUALA LUMPUR, July 22 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Pakistan are
collaborating closely in the development of Information Technology for
mutual benefit, Pakistani High Commissioner to Malaysia Lt-Gen (Rtd) Tahir
Mahmud Qazi said Wednesday.

He told Bernama the latest collaboration was between Pakistan's Sabri-Tech
and Malaysia's iContent Berhad.

Both companies signed an MoU on Monday which would allow them to work
together to develop web applications, consultancy content, telecom and mobile
applications besides focusing on the development of on-and-off shore projects,
team outsourcing and third-party testing services.

Tahir said negotiations were in progress with several Malaysian companies on
various software solutions to be provided by the joint venture.

With such close collaboration, he hoped the IT industry, both in Pakistan
and Malaysia, could develop more rapidly for the benefit of businesses and the
country in general.


Meanwhile, in the banking sector, Tahir said the cooperation between both
countries had shown "great results".

The joint venture between the Muslim Commercial Bank (MCB) of Pakistan
and
Malaysia's Maybank was a resounding success.

MCB, the fourth largest bank in Pakistan, has been given a AA+ rating for
long-term and A1+ for short-term by the Pakistan Credit Rating
Agency, based on the robust financial profile and consistent performance.

While Maybank, with 20 per cent stake in the MCB, is Malaysia's largest
financial institution, with a total asset base of RM87 billion (US$1=RM3.5) and
was rated "A" by the International Rating Agency Standard and Poors.

-- BERNAMA