Cyberjaya (Malaysia), Apr 28: Notwithstanding the recent harassment of Indian IT experts in Malaysia, Satyam Computer Services on Monday launched its Global Solutions Centre here to enhance its presence in the Asia-Pacific region.
The company also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Microsoft (Malaysia) to create IT outsourcing capability to meet the "growing demands in the region”. The partnership is likely to train over 200 IT professionals in two years.

Managing director of the Indian IT giant Satyam, B Ramalinga Raju, said Malaysia is an attractive location because of its world-class infrastructure, strategic location in the region and proximity to India.

Speaking on the occassion, Indian high commissioner Veena Sikri said increasing presence of Indian IT companies in Malaysia will further deepen ties between the two countries.
She also complimented the Malaysian government in dealing with the incident last month when police detained Indian IT professionals despite having valid documents, in Kuala Lumpur.

"In recent weeks, India's IT professionals had been in the eye of the storm. But I must thank the government of Malaysia and in particular the acting Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for the tremendous understanding and support, which has put the problem absolutely behind us and we now are seeing the first result of this cooperation," she said.

Inaugurating the centre, Malaysian Minister of Energy, Communication and Multimedia, Amar Leo Moggie, sought to bury the incident and said Malaysia continues to welcome "knowledge workers”.

"Notwithstanding an unfortunate recent aberration involving knowledge workers from India, I would like to stress that Malaysia continues to welcome such knowledge workers and appreciates the skills they bring to Malaysia and help impart to their local counterparts," said Moggie.
"Malaysia has taken definite steps to ensure that such incidents do not recur," he said, adding Satyam's move manifests that investors are confident of Malaysia's intent to meet investors' concern in this regard.
Satyam, which has a Multimedia Super Corridor status that gives special incentives to the companies in setting up business here, already has a notable presence in the region.
The Global Solutions Centre (GSC), the software development centre which is a part of Satyam's Business Continuity Process model, will drive the company's expansion not only in Malaysia but also in Asean, said Raju.
On the tie-up with Satyam, Butt Wai Choon, managing director of Microsoft (Malaysia) said, Microsoft will develop Malaysian talent for the domestic and international markets. "The collaboration envisages Satyam working with Microsoft Malaysia in key industry verticals, such as government, banking, insurance, retail and distribution and logistics."
Raju said Satyam and Microsoft will jointly work to develop local talent. Satyam plans to recruit about 50 per cent workforce locally, he said, adding initially it has to recruit a large number of professionals from India and abroad.
Raju said the company has invested around Rs 1.5 crore in setting up the new venture.
Satyam already has eight offices and three software development centres in Asia-Pacific and the Malaysian facility will be the fourth development centre in the region.
Bureau Report