Opening of UST Global Malaysia New Delivery Centre with Infinity Lab Bayan Lepas, Penang
Opening of UST Global Malaysia New Delivery Centre with
Infinity Lab
Bayan Lepas, Penang
21 January 2020
Speech by YAB Tuan Chow Kon Yeow, Chief Minister of Penang
Krishna Sudheendra
CEO of UST Global
Alexander Varghese
COO of UST Global
Dato Wan Peng
COO of MDEC
Kim Chin Kuang
Chairman Malaysia GBS Focus Group
Amar Chhajer
Country Head for UST Global Malaysia
Good afternoon.
I am pleased to be present here today at the Opening of UST Global Malaysia’s New Delivery Centre with Infinity Lab, another milestone for UST Global, a multinational provider of IT services and solutions. On behalf of the Penang State Government, I am delighted to extend our heartiest congratulations to UST Global on this expansion and a warm welcome to CEO Mr. Krishna Sudheendra and COO Mr. Alexander Varghese to Penang.
UST Global Malaysia’s New Delivery Centre with Infinity Lab
I was informed that UST Global Malaysia New Delivery Centre with Infinity Lab is the organisation’s first and only Infinity Lab in South East Asia, making Penang one of the seven locations worldwide – which will be responsible for Digital Transformation and IOT solutions for clients in South East Asia.
The company expanded to Penang in 2011, and later established its Technology Center of Excellence in Bayan Lepas in 2017. Today, Malaysia is one of the company’s largest site out of the 26 countries of which UST Global is operating in.
I am pleased to hear of your plans of doubling the number of employees from the current 1,000 talents in Malaysia within the next 2-4 years. Ninety percent of the current employees are employed in Penang, and with the future increase in employment centred in Penang, this will provide high-quality job opportunities focused on digital solutions into the State.
Your growing presence is a strong testament that Penang will remain as an investment location of choice which offers the right environment for GBS companies to grow their operations sustainably in Penang.
GBS as Catalyst towards a High-income and a Knowledge-based Economy for Penang
Within the period of 15 years, since Penang has been awarded the MSC Malaysia Cybercity Status in year 2005, Penang Cybercity initiative has also created over 200 MSC status companies and more than 12,000 high valued jobs. Penang continues to record robust investments and re-investments from established GBS companies. We also observed that GBS companies in Penang continued to expand and upgraded their activities to high valued services within the companies’ portfolio.
Last year, during the 5th Penang GBS Conference 2019, the Global Business Services Focus Group (GFG) was formed. Known as a ‘by the industry for the industry’ initiative, with InvestPenang as the Focus Group’s lead agency, the platform allows stakeholders to share information, ideas and concerns related to the industry. We value contributions and ideas from companies such as UST Global in this focus group. Mr. Amar Chhajer, Country Head of UST Malaysia, has worked closely with Federal and State agencies, and greatly supported initiatives in the GBS industry.
The Penang Development Corporation is also in the midst of developing a new GBS facility, namely GBS@Mahsuri. Upon completion by the first half of this year, GBS@Mahsuri will provide 80,000 sqft of Grade A office space. I was informed that the pre-let take-up rate has been highly encouraging, and the State remains committed to enhance GBS facilities for this industry.
All these efforts echo and are in line with the State’s Penang2030 action plan, especially under the theme ‘Upgrade the economy to raise household incomes. I believe that over the long-term, the public-private initiatives in various sectors including the GBS industry will benefit the people of Penang and the country as a whole.
Closing Remark
In closing, once again, my heartiest congratulation to UST Global on this milestone and we look forward to deepening our partnership and wish you continuous growth and success in Penang.
Thank you.