Released
by : The Star
Date : 2 July 2004
KUALA LUMPUR: US-BASED Datacard Group, a
leading global software provider of identification solutions, aims to make Malaysia its
base for its foray into China and the Asian region.
Chairman Hatim A. Tyabji said Malaysia had the
infrastructure, entrepreneurial skills and information technology (IT) manpower to assist
the group in expanding its business into China and other Asian countries.
"We will use Malaysian talents and IT skills to fast
track our expansion into China," he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur yesterday after
speaking at the Entrepreneurial & Leadership talk series, organised by the
Malaysian Institute of Management.
"Malaysia was one of the first countries to embrace
smart card technology with the introduction of MyKad to solve identity card
fraud," said Hatim.
He said the group, via its unit Datacard QSS Sdn Bhd, was
instrumental in facilitating the multi applications of the chip-based card.
The group claims to have an 80% to 90% market share in
payment cards in the financial sector worldwide.
Mr Hatim A. Tyabji
(right) & Mr Song Hoi See (left) at the press interview of the Entrepreneurship &
Leadership Talk Series. |
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"We have good working
relationships with the Malaysian authorities and the local IT experts and the group sees
vast potential for joint-collaboration to market smart card technology, especially its
multi-application function, to the rest of the world, especially China," said Hatim.
Datacard Group vice-president (global sales
operations) Michael Wilber said several Asian countries like South Korea were keen to
learn from Malaysia's experience in the implementation of MyKad and the potential
of the chip-based card for multi applications in areas such as healthcare, finance,
security and personal identification. |
On the group's foray into China, he said: "We now
have an office in Beijing and will soon have another in Shanghai. The group plans to have
three offices in China before the end of the year."
For the financial year ended Dec 31, 2003 Datacard QSS
posted revenue of RM60mil.
Datacard QSS group managing director T.S. Lee said the
company expected 20% growth in revenue for its current financial year.
"We have been growing at a rate of 20% to 40%
annually for a number of years," he said.
The talk series also featured Plaza Business Centre Ltd
chief executive officer Song Hoi See, who spoke about his experience in doing business in
China.
Related links:
'Speech by Dr Andy Woo Cheong Lai,
Council Member - Malaysian Institute of Management - Entrepreneurship & Leadership
Talk Series'
'Success Stories: Entreprenership At its
Best'
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