MTDC to enhance network of businesses with ASPA

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Technology Development Corporation Sdn Bhd (MTDC) aims to actively enhance the network of businesses between those funded by it and other local companies outside its ecosystem with the Asian Science Park Association (ASPA).

Chief executive officer Datuk Norhalim Yunus said this would benefit the companies via technological acquisitions and transfer, distributorships and joint ventures, while reducing the risk of finding foreign partners who were not genuine.

“MTDC hopes all Malaysian small and medium enterprises ( SMEs) will develop to be technologically literate and increase technology content as they grow up the value chain.

“Sometimes the technology required may not be available here, for example, in robotics.So, we need foreign expert partners among ASPA members to grow,” he added.

He told reporters this at a business matching session coorganised by MTDC and South Korea’s ASPA yesterday.

Norhalim said in an effort to promote collaboration with ASPA, at least six Malaysian undergraduate entrepreneurs, would be sent to South Korea’s Kyungpook National University for two weeks to learn Asian technologies.

“We will also feature a few of our companies at ASPA’s annual conference at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, from Oct 19-21,” he added.

Some 22 South Korean, Indonesian, Iranian and Taiwanese companies from the healthcare, information and communications technology, electronics/electric, machinery, automation, robotics as well as product design, beauty and environment industries, participated in the session today.

“This is the second business matching session. Last year over 100 local companies participated in the event.

“About 60 Malaysian companies are also participating this year. We will continue to keep channels open after the end of today’s session to promote networking,” he added.

ASPA, an international nongovernmental organisation, has about 60 science park organisations in over 20 countries with the objective of accomplishing joint development in the fields of scientific technology, industry and economy in Asia.

MTDC is a wholly- owned subsidiary of Khazanah Nasional Bhd, established to encourage local companies to use technology, via the commercial is at ion of foreign technologies through research and development. — Bernama