New WA IT consultancy firm (Consultel Aust) opened

2/4/97

Commerce and Trade Minister Hendy Cowan today opened new offices for a Western Australian information technology consultancy firm which is winning valuable contracts in Asia.

Mr Cowan said that Consultel Australia had won some $5 million in consultancy work here and overseas last year and had found it necessary to move to larger premises to accommodate extra staff.

"Consultel's success lies largely in its ability to identify its customers' needs and its willingness to tailor its services to individual clients," he said today.

"The company has undertaken a research project in cooperation with two WA companies, CSI and OSCOM, to develop new technologies and concepts."

Consultel's move to new premises in Adelaide Terrace, Perth, is a direct result of the work it has been undertaking in developing Intelligent Building Systems.

The company's core expertise - in communications, information technology and security consulting services - forms the basis of Intelligent Building Systems (IBS), which allow automatic management of building services.

Consultel exports its expertise and intellectual property to Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

Clients and activities managed out of the Perth office include the provision of data network for APEC, the design of the POS Bank and Housing Development Board intelligent buildings for Singapore, the Securities Commission intelligent building for Malaysia, and strategic planning for the Thai Farmers' Bank.

Consultel was established in 1984 with its head office in Melbourne. The Perth office was established shortly afterwards.

"The innovation and problem-solving capabilities provided by Consultel are indicative of many WA IT&T companies," Mr Cowan said.

"Twelve local companies demonstrated their capabilities at CeBIT, the world's biggest IT expo, in Hanover last month.

"Like those companies, the expertise of Consultel is being recognised internationally. Consultel has secured consultancy work over major international players.

"The efforts of companies like these ensures WA's pre-eminent position in this demanding industry."

Mr Cowan said that among current developments, the State Government was positioning WA as a location for a regional call centre.

"As well, the ongoing work of the Cooperative Research Centre for Broadband Telecommunications and Networking is evidence that by working with the IT&T industry, we can position WA for the communication needs of the next century."

Media contact: Peter Jackson 222 9595