英國于賽城設立Soft Landing Zone

United Kingdom sets up Soft Landing Zone in Cyberjaya ~Assists new UK IT companies to expand in Malaysia~

Kuala Lumpur, 12 July 2007 – The United Kingdom Trade and Investment (UKTI) is collaborating with the Coventry University Enterprises Ltd (CUE) to launch a Soft Landing Zone (SLZ) in Cyberjaya. SLZ serves as a platform to assist United Kingdom based companies in the information technology industries to set up businesses in Malaysia. Located within the Multi-Media Development Corporation (MDeC), the office will be managed by CUE in close collaboration with MDeC.

Announcing the initiative, Mr Tim Luft, Director of the Soft Landing Zone said, “The Soft Landing Zone will provide United Kingdom (UK) businesses with a cost effective and relatively free opportunity to compete in the Malaysian market. We aimed to attract small to medium sized companies, especially those involved in research and development and high growth technology. We also welcome companies interested in joint research and development projects, outsourcing, setting up a second office or undertaking a joint venture project.”

SLZ refers to the pre-preparation of work environment in a foreign county, tailored to the needs of companies seeking to do business within that specific location. It has been successfully implemented across Europe and Asia.

“The soft landing zone Malaysia is a safe and welcoming environment for companies who are at the early stages of trading in Malaysia,” explained Mr John Latham, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the Coventry University. “The UK companies who will be using this office may well have visited Malaysia, although they now require the operational and cultural support to establish a joint venture, new business or partnership.”

SLZ also includes a reciprocal service in the UK for Malaysian business. Indeed the UK is equally welcoming companies from Malaysia that require a similar support package to help them generate sales, new business and partnerships across the UK.

Mr Gordon Reid, Director of Trade and Investment, British High Commission said, “The effort is timely as the UK has enjoyed the benefits of an on-going bilateral relationship with Malaysia for many years. In fact, UK companies are now the highest among European companies in Malaysia accorded with the MSC status. We hope to see mutual benefits from this platform where Malaysia would also gain from the on-going transfer of UK’s latest cutting edge technology & innovations.”

United Kingdom is a leader in attracting R&D investment projects. This includes biotechnology, telecommunications, performance engineering, computing, electronics, satellite design and construction and lose-alternative energy technologies. UK is also a major player in new electronics technologies with tremendous expertise in displays, optoelectronics, chip development and wireless.

The SLZ is part of the ‘Malaysia and UK: Forward Together’ Campaign. In line with the Malaysia 50th Independence, the British High Commission has arranged a multitude of business, technology, educational and cultural activities to celebrate both countries’ successful partnership.