JAKARTA (June 3): The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) today announced a strategic partnership with Indonesia's leading company-building venture capital firm, Kejora Group, to facilitate business expansion opportunities for a mutually beneficial and synergetic relationship between companies under the portfolio of each party.

"MDEC is committed to driving this synergistic approach to connect MDEC's digital economy leadership in the areas of market access and IP (intellectual property) creation with Kejora's expertise in Indonesia's funding ecosystem," said MDEC chief executive officer Datuk Yasmin Mahmood at the memorandum of understanding's signing ceremony here today.

She explained that MDEC will provide Kejora and its affiliated companies access to potential Malaysian clients and venture capital network, a soft landing platform in Malaysia, and support over insights on financial resources, strategic partners and business models refinement.

In return, Kejora will provide similar support for MDEC in Indonesia.

"Technology and digital industry is the most exciting sector. There are a lot of investments in plantation and other sectors between Malaysian and Indonesian companies. It should be the same for the technology and digital industry," she said.

Kejora Group's founding partner Andy Zain said, "This is an opportunity for both parties to learn from each other. We are delighted with the partnership, as it allows us to continue building and investing in technology start-ups — creating a tech eco-system of venture builders, investors, incubators, event space, and co-working space. We look forward to further contributing to the nation's digital roadmap."

He also said he is very impressed with Malaysia as the technology industry contributed 17% to its gross domestic product.

Meanwhile, today also marked MDEC's instrumental role in facilitating three alliances between Malaysian and Indonesian tech companies, signified by a ceremony of document exchanges that outlined their intention to collaborate. The alliances are between PT Sigma Cipta Ceraka or Telkom Sigma and TriAset Sdn Bhd, Jocom and Lojai.com, and IFCA Property365 Indonesia and PT Sindeli Propertindo Abadi.

MDEC is the government agency responsible for developing the national information and communications technology industry.