malaysiang
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s upcoming chairmanship of ASEAN next year is set to serve as a significant impetus for the nation’s advancement in digital technologies and its attractiveness to foreign investors.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, German software company TeamViewer’s CEO, Oliver Steil, expressed potential interest in investing in Malaysia within the next five years. While no concrete plans are currently in place, Steil hinted at the possibility of establishing a presence in Malaysia, highlighting the company’s ongoing investments in various countries.
TeamViewer is renowned for its remote control software, which connects a wide range of sectors from oil rigs to tech companies and even Formula One teams. Headquartered in Goppingen, Germany, the company traditionally caters to IT support teams. Steil recognized Malaysia’s robust economy and the presence of large companies as key drivers for technological advancements, noting the immense potential in the country’s digitalisation efforts.
From a regio
nal perspective, the ASEAN bloc is gaining attention as a growth area, with TeamViewer prioritizing additional focus and investment in the region. Steil emphasized Malaysia’s strategic position in ASEAN, indicating that the company could potentially serve the Malaysian market from its base in Singapore.
ASEAN’s digital economy is projected to escalate significantly, driven by the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), which aims to clarify digital elements and sectoral ownership structures. The regional economy is expected to grow from approximately US$300 billion to nearly US$1 trillion by 2030. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts ASEAN’s average real GDP growth to reach 4.6 percent in 2023 and 4.7 percent in 2024, marking it as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.
TeamViewer Asia Pacific president, Sojung Lee, echoed Steil’s sentiments, citing ASEAN’s vast opportunities for the tech industry. With a population exceeding 670 million, double that of the United States, the region fa
ces challenges such as an ageing workforce and the need for rapid technological scaling to train the younger population. Lee highlighted Malaysia’s pivotal role in leading ASEAN through its 2025 chairmanship, emphasizing the importance of integrating technology like AI and AR into training systems to enhance customer service and sustain regional growth.
