Expansion plan to help double MACROKIOSK revenue

HOMEGROWN mobile services company, Macro Kiosk Bhd expects double-digit growth for the financial year (FY) ending Jan 31, 2007, buoyed by its expansion programme, chief executive officer Kenny Goh said.

"We have identified three markets - Taiwan, the Philippines and Vietnam - for our expansion this year," he said.

"The three are our primary targets in the short term. It's a must," chief operating officer Henry Goh said.

The mobile messaging solutions specialist has offices in Singapore, Brunei, Hong Kong, Beijing, Bangkok, Indonesia and Kuala Lumpur.

Macro Kiosk has grown from strength to strength, recording double-digit growth yearly for the past three years.

For the FY2005, it registered a three-fold increase in audited pre-tax profit to RM2.3mil from RM700,000 the year before. The company is due to release its FY2006 results soon.

Currently, its overseas business makes up 30% of sales and the company wants to raise this to as much as 90%.

"We hope to achieve that target this year but it will depend on the gestation period," Kenny said, adding that some of the regional units would contribute immediately while some would only do so after 18 months.

Thailand was its main overseas contributor to revenue at the moment, Henry added.

Macro Kiosk is one of the hottest players in the local mobile telecommunications industry, but the name would probably not ring a bell with mobile phone users.

Through its etracker, Macro Kiosk is globally connected to 364 telecommunications companies in 115 countries. This coverage includes leading networks such as GSM, IMODE, CDMA, TDMA, ETACS and Iridium.

Having recently failed to get Securities Commission approval for a Mesdaq listing, Henry said Macro Kiosk might explore the possibility of listing in Singapore, Hong Kong or on Nasdaq.

"We are not in dire need for money," Henry said, adding that Macro Kiosk had enough cashflow to support its expansion plans.