Outsourcing Association Focuses On Malaysia as Emerging Destination

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y., Nov. 29 – With Malaysia emerging as an outsourcing destination, professionals in the country have joined together to form a chapter of the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP) and are actively promoting its talent.

IAOP Chairman Michael Corbett also recently spoke about Malaysia as a source for knowledge workers during a panel discussion on “seizing outsourcing opportunities in Asia” on Nov. 14, at the Forbes Galleries in New York.

Malaysia’s Multimedia Development Corp. (MDeC), a company of visionary leadership assisting MSC (Multimedia Super Corridor) Malaysia in the information age, established the newest IAOP chapter and also sponsored the Forbes forum. A delegate from the MDeC was at the November breakfast to promote the MSC to the U.S. business community.

"For the industry, getting access to talent is as important as outsourcing,” said Corbett. “Unique labor pools are being developed around the world in places like Malaysia, which companies will need to increasingly tap into to meet their future employment needs.”

Other speakers at the event included Steve Forbes, President and CEO, Forbes Inc., Editor-in-Chief, Forbes Magazine; Paul Maidment, Executive Editor, Forbes; Tan Sri Abdul Halim Ali, Chairman, MDeC; Dato’ Badlisham Ghazali, CEO, MDeC; and Mike Powell, Vice President International, RCS Inc.

The Hon. Dato’ Sri Jamaluddin Jarjis, Minister of Science, Technology & Innovation, Malaysia was a guest of honor.

"My company has been set up by the government but we are given a free hand to manage it and achieve its goals,” said Ghazali of MDeC. “Malaysia is not competing against India and China but is merely offering an alternative to those looking for one.”

Forbes also spoke positively about the progress made in Malaysia and the business-friendly government policies. "The MSC is a unique idea and MDeC combines the best of both the private and public sectors," he told the meeting.

"Although we are very happy with India, we wanted to look at new sites. We have operations all over Asia but Malaysia appealed to us most. What was utterly seductive about Malaysia was the quality of its infrastructure," said Powell of software company RSC.

Outsourcing service providers, customers and advisors in Malaysia also met last month in Malaysia for the kick off of the IAOP’s newest chapter with the goals of strengthening the young country’s position as an outsourcing destination. The chapter also will work to increase its ranks of Certified Outsourcing Professionals (COP), through the IAOP.

About IAOP
The International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP) is the global, standard-setting organization and advocate for the outsourcing profession. With 40,000 customer, advisor and provider members world-wide, IAOP helps companies increase their outsourcing success rate, improve their outsourcing ROI, and expand the opportunities for outsourcing across their businesses. To learn more, visit www.outsourcingprofessional.org.


Media Contact:
Michael Forbes
IAOP Communications Manager
(845) 452-0600, ext. 118
mike.forbes@outsourcingprofessional.org


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