WCIT 2008 signs 41 new Partners | Malaysia Technology Blog

Posted on 23-04-2008

WCIT 2008 signs 41 new Partners

Filed Under (Malaysia, Technology, iPhone) by scamboy

Another 41 corporations and governments have come on board as Strategic Partners of the 16th World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT 2008) as the countdown to this highly-anticipated global forum on information and communications technology (ICT) enters its final stretch. This brings the total number of institutional participants to 67, with the latest additions including:

Seven Malaysian States
The nation’s pioneer in genome technology
A Latin American country
Malaysia’s first global university
A global security solution provider
Four international media organizations
26 companies engaged in technology development and other services.

(See the list below of new partners)

WCIT 2008 Chairman Dato’ Badlisham Ghazali and WCIT 2008 Chief Executive Officer Dan E. Khoo exchanged agreements with representatives of the organizations in a ceremony witnessed by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili at a leading hotel here today.

In congratulating the new partners, the Minister said: “The significance of today’s event highlights the private-public sector collaboration for the progress of the ICT sector. With increased partnership, comes the opportunity to further develop and exploit our existing strengths, create and develop innovative approaches, and generate a web of valuable relationships.”

Datuk Dr Maximus also launched the event’s first-ever online business matching portal for use by delegates and institutional participants attending WCIT 2008. “Today, we also focus on an important aspect of any successful ICT-related initiative – the facilitation of trade.

It is the key building block that provides two-way interaction between buyers and sellers to match business needs,” he said. Welcoming the new partners, Dato’ Badlisham expressed confidence that WCIT 2008 would be a shot in the arm for the local ICT industry and MSC Malaysia with the expected turnout of 2,500 c-level delegates from 80 countries for the Congress and 44,000 visitors for the exhibition.

The participants, he said, include more than 100 high-profile speakers who will share their wisdom and experience on pressing issues such as the impact of ICT on outsourcing, education, innovation, technopreneurship, healthcare, the environment and the future of the Internet.

“This is a rare opportunity to listen to and gain valuable insights from some of the world’s greatest minds on not only ICT-related issues but also other technologies that are beginning to have an impact on the way we live and work,” added Dato’ Badlisham.

The latest marquee speakers to confirm their attendance are celebrity genome scientist Dr Craig Venter whose work in genetic engineering is exciting the world and Google Chief Internet Evangelist Dr Vinton Cerf, widely acknowledged as the ‘Father of the Internet’.

Cerf and Venter join such illustrious names as Microsoft’s Bill Gates – who will address the biennial global ICT forum via holographic technology – Intel Chairman Dr Craig Barrett, Dr Hamadoun Toure, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union, Dr Robert Atkinson of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, Nobel Laureate Dr Rajendra Pachauri of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and many others.

Complementing the presence of these captains of industry are several national policy makers like Indian Minister of Communication and IT A. Raja, Dutch Minister of Foreign Trade Frank Heemskerk, Mexican Minister of Economy Dr Eduardo Sojo and Singapore Minister of Information, Communications and the Arts, Dr Lee Boon Yang. Mr Khoo pointed out that the new Partners bring the total cash and in-kind sponsorship amount for WCIT 2008 to more than US$10 million.

To add to WCIT 2008’s appeal, the Malaysian Government and other private bodies are organizing a collection of related events. They include the United Nations Global Alliance for ICT and Development (UN-GAID), the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) E-Governance Asia Forum, the International Multilateral Partnership Against Cyber Terrorism (IMPACT) Ministerial Summit, the International Advisory Panel meeting for MSC Malaysia and up to eight other related events.

Collectively, WCIT 2008 and these events will attract an anticipated 50,000 participants made up of 6,000 delegates and 44,000 expo visitors.

New Strategic Partners

Asiatic Centre for Genome Technology, Malaysia’s pioneer in genome technology
Mexico IT, a government initiative to promote and develop the country’s IT industry
Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, Malaysia’s first global university
Iris Corporation, a global security solution provider
Oracle Corporation, a global leader in database computing
Samsung Electronics, a global brand for electrical and electronics products
Sapura Holdings, a homegrown diversified technology-based multinational corporation
Kiosk Media, a self-service machine solutions provider
KPMG Business Advisory, a world leader in professional services
Basis Bay, a business and IT service provider
FSBM Holdings, an ICT solutions provider
Insynchro, an internet software solutions provider
IBM, the world’s largest IT company
Telekom Malaysia, Malaysia’s largest telecommunications company
Power Screen (Hi-Q Media), Malaysia’s leading Out-of-Home TV network operator
SnT Global Services, one of Asia’s leading outsourcing IT innovators
Green Packet, a wireless networking technology solutions provider
Alfacom Technologies, a systems integrator serving the Asean region
PICO International, a world leader in event marketing services
Pentasoft Malaysia, an ICE business solutions provider
SCAN Associates, an ICT security solutions provider
My Money Tree, a pioneer in retail financial services
Brite Soft Solutions, a business-IT applications developer
Royal Selangor, the world’s best-known brand in Pewter ware
Silverlake Group, a global IT solutions provider
Setia Haruman, Cyberview and the Sepang Municipal Council, master developers of Cyberjaya
Architecting the Enterprise (AtE), global consultants in enterprise architecture
Srixon Golf, a leading brand in golf equipment and apparel
Pos Laju, Malaysia’s national courier service
RE Rogers, a leading international freight forwarder

MEDIA

The Economist, an established media for business and international affairs news
Fortune, one of the world’s most respected business publications and media
OIC Today, an OIC business investment magazine
Jia Yu Home Entertainment, a premier media organization and broadcasting entity providing branding access to key Chinese markets of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong