When I visited Bangalore or Bengaluru, the thought that struck me was: Why did Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) fail but Bangalore succeed in becoming a second Silicon Valley when both set out to be a second Silicon Valley over two decades ago?
This is a question Malaysians should focus on if we want to build a New Malaysia of a top world-class nation of unity, freedom, justice, excellence and integrity which is respected and admired by the international community.
One explanation is that Bangalore became India’s Silicon Valley because of the following factors:
a) Large pool of techies. The city has the highest number of engineering colleges than any other city in the world.
Karnataka is a prime centre of learning, with 16 universities,133 medical training institutions, 134 engineering colleges, and 712 general colleges.
b) Research based platform: It is the ‘science centre’ of India with over 100 R&D centres.
c) Hub for Startup culture
d) Bangalore has become the outsourcing capital of the world. With over two decades’ of experience in outsourcing, Bangalore is the only city in the world that offers global technology companies a unique combination of talented resources, large network of vendors and partnership opportunities.
The city of Bangalore is the backbone of India’s US$60.5 billion outsourcing industry and has carved a name for itself as the “technology hub of the East”.
One can outsource top-notch quality work at 60 per cent lower cost from Bangalore.
e) Bangalore’s cosmopolitan environment.
The outsourcing industry has transformed Bangalore from an Indian to a cosmopolitan city with several IT parks, international schools and quality housing facilities.
f) Pleasant climate.
Malaysians should learn from Bangalore’s success but MSC’s failure to become a second Silicon Valley!
(Media Statement by DAP MP for Iskandar Puteri Lim Kit Siang in New Delhi on Tuesday, 6th August 2019)