Avanade Malaysia clinches four contracts

KUALA LUMPUR--Avanade Malaysia general manager Hong Kean Yong declined to give details on these contracts even though he did reveal that the public sector project is an e-government project involving Internet data centers (IDC) in Cyberjaya.

Avanade Asia Pacific general manager Eng Boon Lau said Avanade Malaysia broke even last month and is expected to record a profit this month.

"Malaysian companies are at the cusp of technology adoption," he said adding they can address the needs of the market at a faster rate with rapid integration of technology into their existing infrastructure.

Hong also did not reveal what Avanade Malaysia's market share is like in the technology consulting area. International Data Corporation (IDC) estimates the Malaysian services' market was worth RM1.1 billion last year.

Avanade which leverages the Microsoft platform to deliver enterprise technology solutions, center around five key service areas--technology infrastructure, enabling e-business, business intelligence, software as a service and pervasive computing.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Avanade chief executive officer Mitch Hill said the company sees Malaysia a market with great potential. He added that Avanade's KL office is one of five development centers in Asia Pacific. The others are in Singapore, Hong Kong, Melbourne and Sydney.

Microsoft Malaysia managing director Butt Wai Choon added Avanade Malaysia would benefit enterprises banking on the Microsoft platform.

"Customers not only demand products and technology but also a relationship. This is where Avanade comes in to assure these customers of long term links," he said. Accenture has a 51 percent stake in Avanade with Microsoft holding the rest of the equity.

Accenture is the new name for Andersen Consulting.