KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 (Bernama) -- A roadmap for human resource development is needed under the New Economic Model (NEM) for Malaysia to become a high-income nation by 2020, says Accenture Malaysia.

"High income status is about people. We need people to achieve the objective under the NEM," said Country Managing Director Goh Aik Meng in a press conference after the launch of a global research on "Women Leaders and Resilience: Perspectives from the C-Suite".

The launch was in conjunction with International Women's Day.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also Finance Minister, will announce the first stage of the NEM on March 30.

On Government's efforts to attract Malaysians abroad, Goh said financial rewards is an important aspect besides providing incentivesr to woo Malaysian knowledge workers working overseas to serve the country.

"Financial reward is an important factor. Hopefully, with the high income economy, there will be a possibility to encourage them to return," he said.

On the research, Goh said it showed that 88 per cent of corporate leaders in Malaysia reported that resilience was extremely important in determining whom to retain during the global financial crisis last year.

The survey, conducted between November 2009 and mid-February this year, was for release on International Women's Day to help fuel the dialogue on key issues affecting working women.

It was conducted via global online and telephone survey of 524 senior executives from medium to large companies in 20 countries. In Malaysia, it has received 18 respondents from local organisations.

The research also showed leading organisations will offer innovative leadership programmes to attract and retain high-performing women and women seeking advancement will take on "stretch" roles and take advantage of leadership, mentoring and programmes.

Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company.