IBM Spearheads It Services Industry Via Global Services Intergration Hub

By Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku Abdullah SINGAPORE, Dec 5 (Bernama) -- IBM is spearheading the development and adoption of a new model for the IT services industry through its Global Services Integration Hub in Singapore, Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang said Monday. He said over the past century, IBM has long been recognised as an industry bellwether for being able to anticipate and prepare itself for new trends in the information and technology arena. "With this new business model, IBM will be able to centrally control and manage its global IT and knowledge resources for Asia-Pacific from Singapore. "Singapore’s proximity to IBM’s global services delivery hubs in the region, as well as our intellectual protection regime and base of IT professionals with deep technical and domain expertise will provide IBM a vantage point in orchestrating its services delivery in Asia, and brings about significantly greater operational efficiencies for IBM," he said at the launch of IBM GLOBAL Services Integration Hub East here Monday. By locating in Singapore, Lim said IBM will also be able to develop differentiating competencies that will give it an edge in the global marketplace. He said it would be able to gain access to sophisticated demand generated by the republic’s established industry verticals, from healthcare to manufacturing to logistics and finance. Lim pointed that IBM can then use to develop differentiated and customised IT solution templates. "To this end, our successful partnership with IBM is a testament to Singapore’s attributes – a trusted business environment, a strong talent base and having excellent connectivity to regional and global markets. "Our ability to continually develop and enhance these attributes constitutes a cornerstone of Singapore’s role as a Global-Asia Hub," he said adding that the republic wants to serve as the home base for multinational companies and global mid-sized companies to tap into pan-Asian growth opportunities as well as for Asian firms to access global markets beyond Asia. -- BERNAMA