INDEPENDENT NEWS

New Zealand Firms Sell Knowledge In SE Asia

Published: Thu 24 Aug 2000 11:26 AM
The development of the knowledge economy, growth of exports and forging business ties with Asia are generally seen as key to New Zealand’s future economic success. Recent moves by information technology systems integrators RHE Group and well-known Auckland-based engineering consultancy Worley Group are aimed at achieving all three.
With the acquisition by Worley of a 50% holding in Argenta (the consulting arm of RHE) and with combined current revenues exceeding $50 million, the combined group will tackle the SE Asian market, it was announced today.
From the RHE perspective Executive Director Mark Hamilton said Worley is very attractive as a business partner. Hamilton says that RHE’s strategy is based on internationalising its business, so the partnership with Worley will enable the Argenta consulting business to rapidly achieve the levels of growth in the Asian markets that the RHE Group is experiencing in New Zealand and Australia. Hamilton says that the consulting, systems integration and software development capabilities that the RHE Group has developed since its formation in 1994 are precisely what are required to define and realise corporate eCommerce initiatives.
Hamilton says that Worley’s long-established presence in SE Asia and its reputation for successful delivery of offshore consulting services are fundamental to the rapid Asian start up. Hamilton says that other attractions include Worley’s substance and high professional and business reputation and standing.
By combining their respective strengths, Worley Managing Director Ian Parton said the two firms not only open up each other’s business fields to the other, but they are able to offer very powerful technology solutions from for example, hydro power generation to installation of all the downstream information technology. “The fact is we compete globally and we are a world-class firm. Now we offer clients a start-to-finish capability on very big design-and-build projects. But ironically, it is the hard-headed Kiwi approach to solving problems that often impressed clients most,” said Parton.
Parton and Hamilton say that the expanded business will enable it to continue to attract and retain the ‘very best people.’ “Argenta will provide an outstanding environment and scope of opportunities in which New Zealand IT professionals can thrive,” said Hamilton.
Additional Information
Based in Auckland but with offices throughout NZ, Worley has built a big reputation offshore since it first ventured into Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia in the 70s.
Worley is one of New Zealand’s oldest and largest employee-owned consulting firms with more than 400 staff here, Australia and South East Asia. Focusing on engineering and infrastructure management, the engineering business has grown rapidly to embrace power and energy generation and transmission, environmental science, transportation and industrial construction projects. The Worley Group, already active in over 40 countries expects to have more than 600 on its payroll within the next 36 months.
RHE focuses on business and information planning and support and eCommerce solutions with major corporate clients in banking and insurance, airlines, telecommunications and computer systems. The group delivers end to end services from the development of business aligned IT strategies, through all subsequent design, development, delivery and support. Argenta addresses the consulting activities of strategy, project definition and business requirement definition, solution architecture, project control, quality assurance and change management. Argenta strives to provide creative yet pragmatic solutions in time frames that corporates are now demanding to meet the eCom imperatives.
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