Austrade media release

31 July 2006

Local IT and learning companies seal deal with Malaysian solutions provider

Five Australian IT and learning companies will sign commercial agreements in Melbourne today as part of the Malaysian Minister for International Trade and Industry, Dato' Seri Rafidah Aziz's visit to Australia next week.

Following an Austrade-supported visit to CeBIT Australia in May, Malaysian company NCL Solutions Sdn Bhd will sign agreements with: Springhill Publishing Pty Ltd, e-bilities, Edupuzzles, ITEL International Pty Ltd and Experience Australia to collaborate in e-learning and education related projects.
 

NCL Solutions Sdn Bhd specialises in providing digital learning solutions to schools and learning institutions and is a Novell certified Linux Professional training provider.

According to Austrade’s Kuala Lumpur-based Senior Trade Commissioner, Peter Kane, companies from Malaysia and Australia work well together.

“The great involvement of SMEs in both markets means that there is a mutual respect and a good basis for an equal and progressive partnership,” Mr Kane said. “Malaysia’s familiarity with Australia, its skilled IT labour force and cost competitive environment, make it not just an entry point to ASEAN, but in some cases China and the Middle East.”

Managing Director of NCL Solutions, Cindy Chong said, “NCL Solutions was attracted to the Australian companies’ willingness to work cooperatively to achieve two-way business success”.

Ms Chong, who attended school and university in Melbourne, is the former Regional (SEA) Business Development Manager Partner Account Manager for Microsoft Learning, where she worked with training and learning centres, schools and universities throughout South East Asia to promote ICT training and learning values of certifications.
 
Today, commercial agreements will be witnessed by the Malaysian Minister of Trade between NCL Solutions and Australian companies in relation to the following:
• Spring Hill Publishing, Melbourne (e-learning product for preschoolers): Research and develop the Malaysian and ASEAN market with the Beebop series, with intent to become the licensed distributor of finished product for ASEAN.
• e-bilities, Sydney (online mental abilities testing for adults): Reseller agreement for Malaysia and ASEAN - Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and major cities in China.
• Edupuzzles, Launceston (e-learning and education for school-aged children): Cooperation in marketing and development of products for Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines and China.
• ITEL International, Melbourne (English language e-testing and assessment services): Pilot and distribute ITEL Pro English language proficiency test in the Malaysian and ASEAN markets, and co development of future materials.
• Experience Australia, Melbourne (study tour): Two-way agency relationship between Experience Australia and NCL Solutions.

e-bilities and Experience Australia are both part of Austrade’s New Exporter Development Program and these agreements represent their early forays into export.

Ground-breaking Australian e-health company to be awarded exclusive MSC Malaysia status

A leading Australian e-health company will be awarded Malaysian Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) status by the Malaysian Minister for International Trade and Industry at Monday's event in Melbourne.

IBA Health (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Australia’s largest health information company, IBA Health Limited, will be presented with the MSC Malaysia status certification from the Malaysian Minister for International Trade and Industry, Dato’ Seri Rafidah Aziz.

MSC companies enjoy a set of exclusive privileges and incentives from the Malaysian Government. They are covered by a ten-point Bill of Guarantees and can use the highly advanced facilities as a hub for their regional operations in Asia.

IBA Health (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd has committed an investment of over $13 million (RM37m) over three years and created job opportunities for local Malaysians by setting up its regional health technology research and development centre in Kuala Lumpur for the development, localisation and deployment of health information technology in Asia.

Peter Kane, Austrade Senior Trade Commissioner – Kuala Lumpur, and Cindy Chong, Managing Director, NCL Solutions Malaysia, are available for media interviews.

ENDS

Media contact

Name: Purnima Ganapathy
Tel: +61 2 9390 2319
Mob: +61 419 127 577
Email: purnima.ganapathy@austrade.gov.au

For further news and information from the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) visit www.austrade.gov.au/mediacentre.