Deloitte Malaysia executive director of technology consulting, Ow Chee Hong, said the technology sector in the Asia Pacific region continued to soar in 2008, as Deloitte Technology Fast 500 Asia Pacific winners set new records for growth. "The 12 companies are also among the top 500 companies in the Asia Pacific region to win the awards."
Ow said that the 12 companies are: Pulse Group PLC, which was ranked No 1, followed by Everest Web, N2N Connect, Kreateevee, Bsmart Technology, XYBase, Riskk.Com, Bernama Systems & Solutions Advisor, IF Interactive, Comintel, Interbase Resources, and JobStreet.com.
"This year saw an increase in the number of Malaysian internet companies that made it into the ranking, with Pulse Group being Malaysia's No 1 ranked winner," said Ow.
Deloitte provides audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services to public and private clients spanning multiple industries, through a globally connected network of member firms in 140 countries.
Internet companies continue to rise
Ow added, "Internet companies continue to be on the rise as digital marketing becomes more mainstream. Internet companies are flourishing as they offer a more feasible and cost-effective way for businesses to reach out to their target markets."
"This is evident in today's world as MNCs, non-profit organisations and even newly-elected US President, Barack Obama, has hopped on the internet bandwagon and succeeded tremendously," he said.
Asia Pacific marker to remain stronger than others
Deloitte also released the results of this year's Technology Fast 500 Asia Pacific CEO Survey, the firm's annual analysis of business trends among the winning Technology Fast 500 companies. "The survey, conducted in the last quarter of 2008, revealed that in order to achieve continued success, the Technology Fast 500 CEOs will increase their focus on the Asia Pacific region," said Ow.
He said that this indicated the Asia Pacific market would remain stronger than other world markets. "The average revenue growth across all 500 Asia Pacific technology companies, which were honoured at Deloitte's annual awards ceremony in Hong Kong recently, reached 707 per cent over the past three years."
"This represents the highest level of growth since Deloitte started its rankings in 2002," said Ow. "The growth rate for the top five firms more than doubled over figures of 2007 and mainland China occupies an increasingly important position in the rankings, with six companies ranked among the 10 fastest growing companies."