Consider the magnetic pull of Greater Kuala Lumpur (Greater KL) for multinational corporations. It is a strategic hub boasting top-notch infrastructure and business ecosystem, with top-tier expert facilitation, drawing foreign investors through undeniable appeal. Among these players is the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), a leading financial institution, which established its flagship office in Greater KL in August 2023.
This new flagship office marked a new step in the evolution of the company, building on its presence in Malaysia since 2002. Al Nizam, Senior Manager (Operation) of LSEG Malaysia, sheds light on the rationale behind Greater KL’s selection as LSEG’s hub and how InvestKL – Greater KL’s primary investment promotion and facilitation agency – played a pivotal role in this journey.
“As a pivotal force in global finance, with a portfolio of innovative and robust financial market infrastructure and data services, LSEG has helped customers across global markets make informed strategic financial decisions.
Our key offerings are our suite of data, analytics and index products, which are built on a foundation of technological and operational excellence. And this has enabled us to deliver capital markets and post-trade services for many years.
I would like to highlight that while LSEG in its present form came about in 2007, after the merger of London Stock Exchange with Milan Stock Exchange, our history dates further back than that. In fact, we trace our lineage to the London Stock Exchange which was set up in the 17th century and is therefore one of the oldest stock exchanges in the world.
LSEG in Malaysia
Our presence in Malaysia started more than 20 years ago in 2002, during which time we had formed strong relationships with the local market. On this, I would like to credit our dedicated Malaysian team of 250 employees who have been pivotal in helping us establish and maintain a strong local presence.
Our growth and evolution in Malaysia gave us the confidence to set up our new flagship office in Greater KL in 2023. There were a number of key factors which influenced our decision, namely the fact that being in Greater KL gives us the strategic position to tap into the region’s vibrant economic environment and also the highly skilled workforce available here.
On a more personal note, I am especially honoured to have been entrusted with leading the expansion of our operations here in Greater KL. Our objective is to transform our Greater KL office into a hub for LSEG’s data and analytics customer operations, which will focus on research, reporting and data transformation. This not only reinforces our operational capacity but also serves as a beacon of technological and sustainable innovation within the region.
At this moment, we are servicing our global clientele from our KL office. This is possible because of our team of 70 highly skilled professionals who are able to produce diverse financial and risk management content. Additionally, they are supported by a multilingual customer support team.
I would also like to credit InvestKL for their help in facilitating us to set up and operate in Greater KL. Definitely, the support they provide, particularly in connecting us with relevant government agencies and helping us to navigate the local business landscape has been instrumental in our success. Through this we have been able to better align ourselves with local regulations and market demands, thus enhancing our efficiency and integration into the Malaysian market.
Nurturing the Potential of Greater KL and Malaysia
Greater KL has been good to LSEG, particularly in driving forward our aspirations to be a leader in technological innovation and service excellence across the financial sector. And this has spurred us to collaborate with local SMEs and educational institutions.
On that note, I would like to again thank InvestKL for linking us with these key partners, which in turn has allowed us to tap into a rich talent pool and clientele. What is important for us is that we contribute to the local economy and help strengthen professional capabilities and capacity in the financial markets so as to meet global needs and demands.
LSEG is also committed to helping Malaysia meet its net-zero economy goals, which is a key initiative by the Malaysian government. On this part, we have formed a partnership with Bursa Malaysia on sustainable disclosures, which was announced by Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim in March 2023.
As part of this strategic initiative, we have set up a centralised platform for ESG compliance and carbon scoring. In doing so, we hope to ensure that sustainability reporting standards are in line with global requirements, thereby strengthening Malaysia’s position as a premier capital market.”
