Penang A New Emerging IT-BPO Destination
Penang has been named as one of the new emerging information technology-business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) destinations that would allow companies to provide diversity to their global operations and reduce their costs of doing business, according to KPMG’s Exploring Global Frontiers report.
In a statement here Thursday, executive director and head of KPMG’s Business Performance Services, Woon Tai Hai, said Penang has all the strengths to become a major outsourcing hub.
"The state has a highly-skilled employee pool, state-of-the-art telecommunications services, a well-managed skills development centre, and the presence of outstanding tertiary and training institutions.
"Moreover, the state is designated a MSC Malaysia Cybercity, with all the perks attributed to it," he said.
He said the island was rated the 10th best place to live in Asia by ECA International in 2006 and boasted key IT-BPO companies such as Intel, IBM, Motorola and Citicorp as its stalwarts.
Woon said in 2007, the IT-BPO exports from the island were estimated at a whopping US$564 million (US$1=RM3.53).
