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| Infrastructure |
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MULTIMEDIA SUPER CORRIDOR MALAYSIA |
| Sharing
ideas, prosperity |
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RIDING on the tidal wave that is globalisation,
Malaysia has chosen the ICT highway to success. It has
adopted an open, idealistic yet pragmatic outlook, with
Multimedia Super Corridor Malaysia as its vehicle for
change. |
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Today, the world knows of MSC
Malaysia. And it is high time the world gets their
piece (or two) of MSC Malaysia.
The “Best of All Worlds” is found
within the region's fastest growing economy. Malaysia
has a unique proposition of attributes that makes
all others pale in comparison. Almost every aspect
of the political, social and economy environment
in Malaysia is conducive to growth. |
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Information
sharing during the Saudi Arabia ICT delegation's
visit to Cyberjaya |
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| Advantage of location |
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Nature has accorded Malaysia the
best of advantages. Like in the glorious spice-trading
past, Malaysia today is still favoured for its strategic
positioning. Being the meeting point between East and
West, Malaysia is on the global map of most sought-after
places to invest and do business in.
Resembling the golden archipelagos of days gone-by,
the clusters of ICT growth areas within the Southeast
Asian region play a supporting role to Malaysia's climb
up the ICT ladder. Companies that focus here will capture
the markets and technologies of regional growth centres
too.
For example, Malaysia's location also puts it close
to China and India. Anyone placing their business and
interest in Malaysia will also capture the enormous
market size and purchasing power within these two economic
powerhouses. Similarly, setting up in Malaysia will
provide easier connection into the markets of Thailand,
Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines too. |
| Political stability &
continuity |
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Malaysia's inherent structural strength
in politics is known far and wide. The Federal constitutional
monarchy system supported by a government chosen by
the people has led the way to a stable, happy nation.
Understanding that the way forward begins with forward-thinking,
the Malaysian government has a positive and encouraging
take on ideas, innovations and plans that advocate a
progressive Malaysia. Very much pro-business, it has
a reputation for sustaining prospective investors and
emerging markets with concerted and effective support.
That is why the recent 9th Malaysia Plan allocates a
massive USD3.5 billion funding for the ICT sector. This
large budget augurs well for the industry, with many
anticipating bigger growth and wider market reach.Companies
looking to invest, outsource or participate in MSC Malaysia
will also have a choice of strategic, state-of-the-art
cybercities to locate their endeavours. The government
recently announced the expansion of MSC Malaysia into
the whole of Klang Valley, with targeted new cyber centres
in the states of Perak, Melaka, Johor and Sarawak. Joining
the world's first cybercities, Putrajaya and Cyberjaya,
these new additions will definitely help give businesses
a fertile base to grow.
The Government also provides incentives, one of the
best packages in the ASEAN region. MSC Malaysia further
accords those who have obtained the MSC Malaysia-status
special privileges, including tax exemption, research
grants and no restrictions on foreign ownership and
employment of foreign knowledge workers.
The Malaysian Government is also serious in combating
piracy and protecting the intellectual rights of corporations
and individuals. They will be glad to know that there
is a Special Copyright Task Force expressly created
to provide IP protection, data security and information
privacy. |
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| Presentation
being given in MSC Malaysia Virtual Reality Centre |
| Low cost advantage |
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Just as political stability and governmental
support form a low-risk environment opportune to business
growth, Malaysia's comparatively low cost advantage
also encourages the influx of investors and interests.
Cost escalation in countries such as India, China and
the Philippines have cast a positive light on Malaysia.
Besides offering one of the lowest rentals in grade-A
buildings in the Asia-Pacific region, Malaysia also
has low wage inflation (5 percent) and attrition (8
percent) rates compared to many other top Asian countries. |
| A conducive climate |
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Via MSC Malaysia, the country is
host to a vibrant ICT and outsourcing industry, presenting
tremendous opportunities for participation. The Malaysian
ICT market is forecasted to enjoy a compounded annual
growth rate of over 10 percent from 2002 to 2007.
World-class infrastructure is a given in Malaysia. MSC
Malaysia is designed to create an ideal environment
for ICT-related production. The network contains a high-speed
link that connects MSC Malaysia to Japan, ASEAN,
the US and Europe, and is capable of supporting extensive
public administration, education and business applications.
Telecommunication facilities, international shipping
hubs, airports, rails and roads all contribute to a
well-connected, investment-friendly environment. All
circumstances that have Shell, BMW, DHL, Dell and HSBC
chose Malaysia as their regional headquarters.
So much so that AT Kearney Global Rankings 2005 ranked
the country very high in terms of an “enabling
business environment”, only a few notches behind
the USA, Canada, UK, Australia and Germany. |
| People power |
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The country is home to a youthful
population, with approximately 84 percent below the
age of 45 years. Multilingual and well-educated, they
form a large pool of talented knowledge workers and
are the backbone of industries and corporations.
Technology is another mastered art. The country has
a high computer literacy rate, with over 120,000 students
graduating each year in the high-quality fields of finance,
accounting, engineering and IT.
Born and raised in a multi-racial, multi-cultural society
has made all Malaysians more susceptible to new ideas,
more tolerant towards others. |
| An advocator of success |
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Originally set up to be the facilitator
of MSC Malaysia, the Multimedia Development Corporation
(MDeC) is now so much more. The Government's mandate
of bridging the digital divide has become MDeC's campaign
of gold. Armed with a willingness and steadfastness
to help any and everybody who is interested in MSC Malaysia,
MDeC tirelessly assumed the role of point-of-contact
for existing and aspiring MSC Malaysia-status companies.
Last year, MDeC has allocated over USD34 million in
grants for R&D projects. It is planning to open
representative offices in India, China, Europe and the
Silicon Valley. Leading edge and world-class companies
will find it easier and worthier to join the global
hub of ICT in MSC Malaysia. |
| IT gateway to the future |
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To establish MSC Malaysia as
the preferred location for ICT and multimedia
innovations, services and operations, is to put
MSC Malaysia at the forefront of the industry.
With a winning bid led by MDeC, Malaysia becomes
the first Southeast Asian nation to host the world's
focal point for debate on global ICT-related issues
- the biennial World Congress on Information Technology
(WCIT) 2008. |
| MSC
Malaysia welcomes the Royal Prince of the Kingdom
of Saudi of Arabia |
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WCIT 2008 will group together 90
percent of the world's IT market, on a mutual platform
characterised by innovation, international collaboration
and opportunities. It will invite an impressive attendance
list that includes heads of state, industry captains,
entrepreneurs, academicians, researchers, and prominent
public figures into the shores of Malaysia.
The agenda at Kuala Lumpur converges on the theme “Sharing
Knowledge for Economic Growth: IT for Industry, Government
& Society”. With a speakers' register that
might include Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Jerry Yang and
Bill Clinton, the WCIT 2008 will surely demand higher
participation of delegates, exposure to global trends,
and attention from global media and economies. |
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Demonstration
on the usage of Malaysian MyKad using the smart
card technology to the ICT Minister of Iran |
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MSC SOLUTIONS FOR THE WORLD |
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• MSC Malaysia has helped
the Saudi Arabian city of Madinah with implementation
of the e-Government system, to create an intelligent
city emulating Cyberjaya.
The development of e-Madinah is named the Electronic
Government Strategy Study project, with an estimated
budget of USD1.7 million spanning one and half years
• eGames Global Sdn Bhd, an MSC Malaysia-status
company has just received a USD25 million investment
from Japan Digital Content Trust, Inc. to develop world-class
online content and games
• An ICT-enabled method of identification
for Malaysians has brought about global recognition
and demands.
The Multipurpose Card, has found a USD200 million and
growing market that encompasses ASEAN, Asia, Africa
and the Middle East. As the world's first chip-based
secure identification card, the application has expanded
into passport, visa, documentation and other systems.
IRIS Corporation, its developer, says that the microchip
is 100 percent secure and clone-proof.
A dominant player in MSC Malaysia, IRIS has gained a
worldwide reputation. It recently signed a USD7.27 million
contract with the Bahamian government to supply passport,
visa and work permit issuance systems, as well as a
border control management system
• SCAN Associates Berhad, a leading MSC Malaysia-status
security solutions provider, has secured a USD1 million
contract providing consultancy services to establish
a Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) in the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia.
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