NZ Software Firm Joint Ventures With Filipino Company
Auckland-based software developer ProConsul International Limited today announced a joint venture with Filipino
consulting firm Madecor Group to form a national register of Filipino business consultants.
ProConsul Marketing Director Ron Stuart said the project was a logical extension of the company’s global consultancy
register that currently serves such international organisations as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and United
Nations agencies.
New Zealand’s Minister for Information Technology Paul Swain described the development as an exciting move that was a
further example of local software companies seizing opportunities for growth in the globalised IT market.
Mr Stuart said New Zealand consultants on ProConsul’s global register had now achieved contracts exceeding $1 million in
fees income through agreements reached after contact was made by users of consulting services through the register.
“Professionals on our register are now serving in East Timor and India. Others have been on assignment in African
nations, Kosovo, the U.S. and a range of countries in Asia. We are being encouraged by the ADB and other agencies to
broaden our reach because they prefer in many developing countries to use local consultants whose skill levels are
appropriate. The difficulty these agencies face is in locating professional consultants who have the qualifications and
experience.
“Through establishment of national registries with an advanced search system we can provide them with a simple and rapid
method of finding suitable local people.”
He said that under the arrangement with Manilla-based Madecor Group the Filipino company would be responsible for
ensuring the quality and skill levels of consultants registering for contract work with businesses, governments and
international agencies, in line with ProConsul guidelines.
ProConsul International Ltd was formed in Auckland in 1996 to establish an on-line database registry service for the
high level consultant marketplace. It has approximately 300 international consultants on its global register, about 150
of them New Zealanders. The company also provides a registry of engineers for disaster relief (RedR) which is used by
agencies such as the Red Cross and Caritas for locating experts required for emergency situations resulting from
earthquakes, floods and cyclones. It has just announced version three of the online site that adds significant new
services and functionality. – ends