Outsourcing sector to grow 12.6pc by 2015

KUALA LUMPUR: The local outsourcing sector is expected to grow 12.6 per cent to RM7.1 billion by 2015 from RM5 billion last year, Outsourcing Malaysia (OM) said.

"The 2015 projection is optimistically achievable based on the current track record and planned initiatives," OM chairman David Wong said. "OM has put in place a comprehensive three-year plan that encompasses six key strategic thrusts."

OM is an initiative of the Malaysian outsourcing industry and a chapter of Pikom, the country's National ICT Association, to promote and develop Malaysia's outsourcing services industry as a global hub for high-value sourcing.

"With support from Multimedia Development Corp (MDeC) and the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu), OM is confident its initiatives will be a signi-ficant boost to escalate the outsourcing industry's growth towards the 2015 market revenue and talent pool growth projections," Wong said.

OM works closely with MDec and Pemandu to drive the National Key Economic Area business service by focusing on entry point projects relating to outsourcing and positioning Malaysia as a global data centre.

In tandem with the industry's expected growth, OM expects an increase in jobs for 88,000 people by 2015, from 54,000 last year.

"This is closely related to our strategy to establish Malaysia as the regional hub for skilled workers in the outsourcing sector.

"Over the next three years, OM's talent development plans will focus on rebranding the outsourcing industry as a career-of-choice sector for graduates and existing professionals alike," said Wong.

Malaysia is ranked third in the AT Kearney's Global Services Locations Index for the shared services and outsourcing sector.