ICT To Contribute RM42 Billion To Malaysia's GDP By 2015

KUALA LUMPUR, April 20 (Bernama) -- The Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) sees further growth in the third phase (2011-2020) of MSC Malaysia with . Information Communications Technology(ICT), expected to contribute RM42 billion to gross domestic income (GDP) by 2015.

MDeC chief executive officer Datuk Badlisham Ghazali said this represents a 21 per cent growth over the RM34.57 billion recorded in the second phase (2004-2010).

ICT's revenue contribution to the GDP in the first phase was RM26 billion.

In the first four years of phase three, he said the MSC companies' revenue is expected to increase to RM142 billion from the RM103.8 billion recorded previously, while exports are projected to surge by 75 per cent to RM58 billion from RM33 billion.

A total of 160,000 jobs are also expected to be created during this period from the 111,367 in the previous phase, supporting the government's mission to enhance the ICT sector to achieve a high-income and developed nation status in line with the New Economic Model.

MSC Malaysia is also expected to attract RM1.4 billion in new investments this year, similar to what it achieved last year, with the total number of active companies reaching 2,088 as at December 2010.

A total of 1,605 companies are local with foreign companies at 424 and the rest being joint ventures (local-foreign).

"We want ICT to be more pervasive with a wider economic footprint. Our strategies in the three main clusters of creative multimedia, shared services outsourcing and infotech, have been realigned to put stronger emphasis on wealth creation and high-value investments," Badlisham said.

Other core initiatives under MSC Malaysia's third phase includes the establishment of new cybercities each year and completing the Innovative Digital Economy framework by the second half of this year.

He said between two and four cybercities will be established this year in the Klang Valley area.

Twelve fully operational cybercities and cybercentres has been established in the Klang Valley and seven in a few states.

Commenting on the 1Malaysia email project, Badlisham said the offer was a good opportunity for local ICT companies, as it would drive demand for online services and applications.

Information technology solutions provider, Tricubes Bhd, has been appointed by the government to implement the 1Malaysia email project.

The company will enter into a definitive agreement with the government, to finalise the detailed terms and conditions of the appointment in due course.

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