PETALING JAYA, April 27 -- Malaysian tech companies are capable of
producing world-class technology that can gain recognition in the global
marketplace, Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Kong Cho
Ha said.
"We have talented knowledge workers and world-class solutions
and applications. What we lack is global branding and consumer confidence in our
products," he said Wednesday.
"Even local consumers go for foreign
brand-name products instead of better and cheaper local ones due to lack of
branding and confidence," he added.
Kong said local tech companies have
to build up their branding and give consumers a sense of security and confidence
in their products in order to market locally and succeed globally.
To
achieve this, technopreneurs needed to provide good after-sales services and
excellent network and support such as affordable and easily available spare
parts, he said.
He added that they should also maintain their
competitiveness by being creative and innovative, and include research and
development (R&D) as part of their business process agenda.
Kong said
the ministry, through the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDC), has provided
various grants, including for branding, for Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC)
status companies.
MDC, he added, has set up an office in Dalian, China, to assist MSC status companies in
exploring the possibility of penetrating the global market, particularly
China.
He said the International Trade and Industry Ministry also has
allocations for branding purposes.
Kong was speaking to reporters at the
launch of the Securitech Ultralite Home System, a burglary alarm system with
voice feedback for homes and offices, from Infotech Accord MSC Sdn
Bhd.
According to him, the product launch marked another successful
endeavour by a Malaysian company producing and marketing "Made in Malaysia" high
technology products.
"Today, I am proud that Infotech Accord has a
world-class product that is sold in more than a dozen countries in Asia,
Oceania, Europe and the Middle East," he said.
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