Weaker global economy may hit ICT sector

Growth in the Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) sector next year is likely to be affected by the weakening

global economic outlook, says Science, Technology and Innovation Deputy Minister Datuk Haji Fadillah Yusof.



However, he said, projections will be achievable with the Digital
Malaysia initiative, spearheaded by Multimedia Development Corporation
(MDeC) to spur innovation, creativity and productivity, and one of the
key components of the National Transformation Policy.



"It is important to note that Malaysia's ICT industry, encompassing
the hardware, software, services and telecommunications clusters,
accounted for 9.8 per cent of the nation's total gross domestic product
(GDP) last year and is

expected to increase to 10.2 per cent by 2015," he said in his
opening address at the launch of the M3 Communicator, an Android-based
smartphone with Near Field Communication (NFC) capabilities developed
and manufactured in Malaysia by DMD Mobile Sdn Bhd.







The affordable smart phone, priced at RM499, will be available to the Malaysian public by July.



Fadillah said MOSTI is entrusted by the government to lead the
national ICT development agenda with the objectives of building a
sustainable national ICT ecosystem and to support efforts to make
Malaysia a global ICT hub for wealth creation, knowledge generation and
societal well-being. -- BERNAMA