Facebook has opened its office here in Malaysia, expanding its presence in Southeast Asia, which is the social media giant's fastest growing market.
Facebook Southeast Asia managing director Kenneth Bishop said the launch of its office here marked a milestone for Facebook in Malaysia.
"We are committed to helping Malaysians and businesses connect in more meaningful ways. Our local team in Malaysia will be focused on helping businesses tap into this unprecedented opportunity to connect with today's 'mobile- first' consumers," he said.
Southeast Asia, he said, is the fastest growing region for Facebook and Malaysia, a 'mobile-first' country with a mobile penetration rate of 144 per cent, is driving the growth.
Bishop said that Facebook Malaysia had more than 18 million Facebook users and 6.5 million people on Instagram.
Malaysian also ranks 10th globally for the number of friends, which is 60 per cent more than the global average.
"In Malaysia, 94 per cent of people discover products and brands on Facebook, and 62 per cent make a purchase after discovery," he said.
The opening of the local office is part of its expansion in the region following the launch of the Philippines office last month.
Each month, 241 million people use Facebook across Southeast Asia, 94 per cent of them via mobile while globally, 1.65 billion people now use Facebook.
