Malaysian firms eye ICT, agri partnerships with Mindanao counterparts

DAVAO CITY — Information and communication technology (ICT) companies from Malaysia have started discussing potential collaborations with the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry here, particularly on system solutions.

“We want to complement (the operations of the local BPO industry),”Siti Azlina, Malaysia External Trade Development Corp. (Matrade) Manila trade commissioner, said on Wednesday during a Matrade-organized forum.

Another one of the ICT companies, she said, has been using artificial intelligence (AI) to forecast disease outbreaks.

“It (the technology) would be very useful to the DoH (Department of Health) to predict any incoming outbreak and to do the planning,” said Ms. Azlina.

Abu Bakar Yusof, Matrade Exports Promotion and Market Access Division senior director, said another sector that Malaysian companies are looking into is the sourcing of raw agricultural input such as coconut and banana for processing in Malaysia.

“Davao and Mindanao are very strong in agriculture sector,” said Mr. Yusof.

He added that the processing companies would also consider setting up operations here “if there is enough good reason” and they can avail of incentives.

Part of the trade mission is for Malaysian businesses to study local investment policies, assess air and sea linkages, and “understand the (local) culture.”

Ms. Azlina also noted that Malaysian manufacturers have been moving towards automation, which means using “as less labor as possible.”

The Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) said they see the trade mission paving the way for increased partnerships between Malaysian investors and local companies.

“There are many synergies to explore,” said DCCCII Executive Vice-President John Carlo B. Tria.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian delegation also included companies involved in the construction industry who are eyeing participation in the national government’s Build, Build, Build infrastructure.

“We want to be part of that,” Ms. Azlina said. — Carmelito Q. Francisco