Anise Asia taps demand for cloud computing

KUALA LUMPUR: Cloud computing technology provides a new engine for cross trade for Malaysian businesses and companies to reach out to international markets, including the rapidly expanding north African and Middle East markets, Anise Asia Cloud Sdn Bhd president Suhaimee Abu Hassan said.

Anise Asia yesterday launched its own public cloud called Star Anise Asia Cloud to capitalise on the potential demand for such services.

Star Anise Asia Cloud, a Joyent-powered cloud service provider for Southeast Asia, will soon be linked to form a global platform called Global Compute Network (GCN), Suhaimee said.

Speaking after the launch of the public cloud, he said the GCN will be supported by four main sites in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Jakarta and Bangkok.

Although the Star Anise Cloud is a cloud for Southeast Asia, it will position itself for global trade and use in conjunction with other Joyent-powered clouds around the world.

"The GCN will work within its multi-tiered ecosystems to facilitate trade globally, and this will be an extremely powerful engine or infrastructure for any global organisations and even countries that wish to expand their reach and visibility worldwide," Suhaimee said.

Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, who officiated at the launch, said the country welcomed any technological innovation that can bring Malaysia to the world marketplace, or bring the world markets to Malaysia.

He described it as a new engine of trade, especially for the Southeast Asian region, which is a huge market of 590 million people and a total gross domestic product (GDP) of US$1.4 trillion (RM4.23 trillion).

"With cloud computing in place, we can see that companies can go-to-market faster and further around the globe," Mukhriz added.

He said the GCN can act as a super highway for strengthening bilateral, multilateral and regional trade relations and cooperation.

Anise Asia Cloud will resell Joyent's SmartData Centre cloud software for private clouds as the sole distributor for the region.

It has so far signed a reseller agreement with leading solutions provider Xybase Sdn Bhd and PT Quadra in Indonesia.

"We are excited with the Star Anise Cloud as organisations can save millions of ringgit by subscribing to the cloud.

"Capital investments can be reduced and organisations will also be able to lessen the maintenance costs," Suhaimee claimed.

The cloud computing market in the Southeast Asian region is forecast to grow by 51 per cent to some US$6 billion (RM18.12 billion) in 2015.

In Malaysia, Anise Asia Cloud is talking with national petroleum company Petronas, banks, telecommunication companies and government departments.