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Encouraging Collaborations and Increasing Business Opportunities

KUALA LUMPUR, 19 September 2018 – Seven (7) Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between Malaysian and Taiwanese firms across various fields, namely food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, textile, IT services, healthcare and traffic solutions during the Malaysia-Taiwan Industrial Collaboration Summit held at the headquarters of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) today.

Among the MoUs signed include a collaboration between B.U.M. Equipment (Malaysia) and Taiwan’s Wonderful Power Co. Ltd. to develop functional fabric. With the MoU, both companies will not only involve in the exchange of information and market expansion, but will also explore innovative applications in the fashion industry supply chain.

Datuk Norazman Ayob, Deputy Secretary General (Trade) of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) who graced the event said that the signing of the 7 MoUs is a good testament that Malaysia has the right conditions in place to attract foreign businesses in many areas. These collaborations can further step up cooperation and exchanges between Malaysia and Taiwan.

“Technology will continue to be the driving force of the changing landscape in businesses. Hence, it is important for our companies to incorporate new ways of doing things to remain competitive. Malaysia seeks to create a strong innovation climate that is driven by collaborations and technology transfers in high value added areas, such as ICT, design and development, and Internet of Things. Having the right incentives in place is also important. As we seek to become a producer country, one that can churn out high-tech products, we believe there is much our domestic players can learn from Taiwanese firms – especially in cultivating an innovation state of mind,” added the Deputy Secretary General (Trade) of MITI.

The full day event featured sub-forums and business matching sessions with focus areas on textile, food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, smart city solutions and IT services. There was also a sharing session by representatives of YSP Malaysia, Logic Art, Willowglen and Asli Mechanical. Also present was Mr Ching-Ching Yang, Deputy Director General of the Industrial Development Bureau (IDB); Mr Lin Min-Ju, Vice Chairman of the Chinese National Federation of Industries (CNFI); Datuk N. Rajendran, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of MIDA; Dato’ Soh Thian Lai, President of the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM); and Ms Anne Hung, representative of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Malaysia. The event, which was jointly organised by CNFI and FMM, attracted over 300 participants ranging from the Taiwanese and Malaysian business community as well as government representatives.

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About MIDA

MIDA is the government’s principal promotion agency under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) to oversee and drive investments into the manufacturing and services sectors in Malaysia. Starting operations in 1967 with a relatively small set up of 37 staff, MIDA has grown to become a strong and dynamic organisation of over 700 employees. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur Sentral, MIDA today has 12 regional and 20 overseas offices. MIDA continues to be the strategic partner to businesses in seizing the opportunities arising from the technology revolution of this era. For more information, please visit www.mida.gov.my and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, @OfficialMIDA.

For further information, please contact:-

Mr. Nelson Samuel Wilson

Director, Foreign Investment Promotion Division

03-2267 3787 | [email protected]

Posted on : 19 September 2018

7 MoUs Inked at Malaysia-Taiwan Industrial Collaboration Summit

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“Sabah is certainly one of Malaysia’s vibrant destinations for investment. As at December 2017, a total of 761 manufacturing projects with investments worth RM15.1 billion have been implemented in Sabah. More than 90,000 jobs have been created from these projects particularly in the food manufacturing, paper, printing & publishing, wood & wood products, chemical & chemical products, and non – metallic mineral products sectors. The State continues to attract additional approved investments of more than RM40 million in the first half of this year in the food manufacturing and fabricated products,” said Mr Arham Abdul Rahman, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO) of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) during its 6th instalment of the MIDA Invest Series today

16 October 2018, Kuala Lumpur – “Sabah is certainly one of Malaysia’s vibrant destinations for investment. As at December 2017, a total of 761 manufacturing projects with investments worth RM15.1 billion have been implemented in Sabah. More than 90,000 jobs have been created from these projects particularly in the food manufacturing, paper, printing & publishing, wood & wood products, chemical & chemical products, and non – metallic mineral products sectors. The State continues to attract additional approved investments of more than RM40 million in the first half of this year in the food manufacturing and fabricated products,” said Mr Arham Abdul Rahman, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO) of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) during its 6th instalment of the MIDA Invest Series today.

The series that started in January this year had so far, featured Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan, Pahang and Terengganu. It serves to provide updates and insights on the investment opportunities and facilities in every state in Malaysia. The event, which was held at MIDA headquarters today involved presentations by 5 Sabah Government Agencies namely the Department of Industrial Development and Research, Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park, POIC Lahad Datu and Sandakan, and Sabah Oil & Gas Development Corporation Sdn Bhd.

En. Arham highlighted that Sabah state government has set a goal to increase its industrial share of Gross Domestic Products (GDP) up to 35%, from the present 7.5%. “It may seem like a tall order but nothing is impossible. Sabah already has many attractive advantages in place and with concerted efforts from all stakeholders, I believe this aspiration can be achieved,” he added.

The Deputy CEO of MIDA also raised the concern of investors in the East Coast of Sabah. He shared that there are on-going measures being undertaken by the Government to address this matter. The Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom), set up in 2013, comprising input and personnel drawn from the police, military and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), has the expertise and intelligence to empower investors in protecting their assets. They are proactively ensuring the safety of the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone). “We advise any investor to come to us for the correct information and seek our input in how to include preventive security measures in the business plan,” said En. Arham.

Participants were also urged to take advantage of the available facilities provided by the Government such as the matching grant under the Domestic Investment Strategic Fund, and the Less Developed Areas Incentive. In embracing Industry 4.0, the Government has also introduced several incentives such as Capital Allowance for ICT equipment and software, Automation Capital Allowance and Soft Loan Scheme for Automation & Modernisation (SLSAM) to encourage more companies to adopt smart manufacturing technologies and processes that will in return help in reducing dependency on foreign labour, improve productivity and enhance their long term competitiveness.

Since the introduction of DISF in 2012, MIDA has approved 308 projects with investments amounting RM14.7 billion with an approved grant value of RM1.51 billion. However, there is no company in Sabah that has received a grant under the DISF scheme. For the Less Developed Areas incentive, there is one project in Sabah that has been granted the incentive, thus far.

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About MIDA

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Ahmad Tajudin Omar

Director, Domestic Investment & Supply Chain Division, MIDA

Tel.: 03-2267 3627

Email: [email protected]

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Talking Points by Mr Arham – MIDA Invest Series: Sabah

1. DIDR (Slide Presentation)

2. KKIP (Slide Presentation)

3. POIC Lahad Datu 2 (Slide Presentation)

4. POIC Sandakan (Slide Presentation)

5. SOGDC (Slide Presentation)

Posted on : 16 October 2018

Investors to Consider Sabah as the Next Location for Investment

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The development of industrial parks in the country needs to be synchronized with the states’ unique strengths and leverage on specific industry clusters. “By providing a location which is well equipped with the right ingredients of the highest standards, it has the potential to transform the area into a thriving city of industry. Perak, for example, being the second largest state in Peninsular Malaysia, could leverage on the economic development of its bordering states. Local SME industrial clusters here could be further strengthened by tapping into the supply chain of big corporations or multinational companies in neighbouring states,” said YB Dr. Ong Kian Ming, Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry at the Industrial Park Forum for the Northern Region held at Weil Hotel, Ipoh today

18 October 2018, Ipoh – The development of industrial parks in the country needs to be synchronized with the states’ unique strengths and leverage on specific industry clusters. “By providing a location which is well equipped with the right ingredients of the highest standards, it has the potential to transform the area into a thriving city of industry. Perak, for example, being the second largest state in Peninsular Malaysia, could leverage on the economic development of its bordering states. Local SME industrial clusters here could be further strengthened by tapping into the supply chain of big corporations or multinational companies in neighbouring states,” said YB Dr. Ong Kian Ming, Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry at the Industrial Park Forum for the Northern Region held at Weil Hotel, Ipoh today.

“On the topic of infrastructure, park developers should also consider the move towards Industry 4.0 and the world of automation. It is important to embrace new strategies and enhance current infrastructure and facilities to meet new demands, such as technical support for electronic devices and smart monitoring equipment, which requires round-the-clock, stable, high-speed internet in the parks,” he added.

Quoting the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone (FIZ), Proton City in Tanjung Malim and Kulim Hi-Tech Park as examples of some notable industrial parks in the country, Dr Ong said, “As the demands of the industrial players increase, our industrial park developers also have to up your game in order to meet the demand for higher standard.” In his speech, he pointed out three distinguishing factors for industrial parks, namely, public-private partnerships for world-class infrastructure, an ecosystem strategy for incentivising and attracting a particular segment of industry and growing the downstream manufacturers, and dedicated support by state investment agencies

Also present were Deputy CEO of Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), Mr. Arham Abdul Rahman and Chairman of Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) Perak, Dato’ Gan Tack Kong. During his welcome remarks, Mr. Arham said, “Malaysia’s 13 states and 3 federal territories offer their unique strengths and ecosystems to investors. It is our desire to undertake initiatives in every state to encourage more equitable spread of investments throughout Malaysia. While Perak is well-known for its Old Town White Coffee, soya bean curd (tau foo fah), hot springs and limestone hills, the state also has a very diversified industrial portfolio.“

In promoting the state to investors, MIDA is working closely with the state government including the State Economic Advisory Council (SEAC), which was established in July 2018. “We are pleased to note that the State Government has given special attention to attract quality foreign direct investments to the state. With the efforts and initiatives undertaken by the Kumpulan Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Perak (PKNP); as well as private developers such as Stellar World (Pengkalan Hulu) and Proton City Development Corporation (Tanjung Malim), we strongly believe that the state is moving towards the right direction in preparing for the new wave of investors,” added Mr Arham.

A total of 5,500 manufacturing projects have been approved and implemented in the Northern region, thus far. These projects amounted to RM178.5 billion of investments. Foreign investments accounted for RM119.4 billion or 67% of total investments while domestic investments made up the rest. In addition to creating more than 680,000 jobs, these projects have also opened doors for spill over benefits to be enjoyed by local businesses in Perak, Penang, Kedah and Perlis as well as the overall economy.

For the first half of this year (1H2018), MIDA has approved an additional 88 manufacturing projects with investments of RM3.1 billion for the northern region. Once these projects are realised, we will be looking at 5,171 more job opportunities for this region.

Perak alone attracted a total of 16 approved manufacturing projects worth RM364.5 million in 1H2018. The recent MOUs that were signed between Invest Perak and 5 companies, once realised, will translate to RM1.9 billion worth of investments. In addition, MIDA already has a total of 15 manufacturing projects in the pipeline for Perak with proposed investments of RM755.7 million.

The Industrial Park Forum was jointly-organised by MIDA and FMM. It was well attended by over 200 participants from various fields, including business chambers, local authorities, park developers & managers, utility companies, manufacturers and potential investors. The Forum featured a panel discussion by a broad range of speakers from Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Perak (PKNP), Telekom Malaysia, Finisar Malaysia, Penang Development Corporation (PDC), Ditrolic Solar, Proton Holdings Berhad, Lembaga Air Perak and Kulim Hi-Tech Park.

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For more information, please contact:

Mr. Ahmad Tajudin Omar

Director, Domestic Investment and Supply Chain Coordination Division, MIDA

Tel.: 03-2267 3627 | Email: [email protected]

Download:

Speech by YB Dr. Ong Kian Ming, Deputy Minister of International Trade & Industry_Industrial Park Forum Northern Region

Speech by Mr. Arham Abdul Rahman, DCEO II of MIDA_Industrial Park Forum Northern Region

Posted on : 18 October 2018

Industry Park Developers to Employ New Strategies

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Approved Investments in the Services, Manufacturing and Primary Sectors Rose by 17.7% in 1H2018

Kuala Lumpur, 29 October 2018 – Malaysia continues to attract new approved direct investments in the services, manufacturing and primary sectors in the first half of 2018 (1H 2018) with a total of RM80.2 billion, an increase of 17.7% from the same period last year (RM68.2 billion). The investments approved in January – June were from 2,346 projects. These are expected to generate 60,181 job opportunities for Malaysia.

Despite rising competition and a challenging external environment, Malaysia remains a competitive investment location for foreign investors. Foreign investments increased by 35.3% to RM26.5 billion in 1H 2018 from RM19.6 billion in the same period last year. The increases in foreign investments were mainly seen in the manufacturing and primary sectors. Meanwhile, domestic investments led with RM53.7 billion, contributing 67% to the total approved investments in all three sectors. The performance of the domestic investments also saw a rise of 10.5% from RM48.6 billion in the same period last year.

Services Sector

The services sector continued to account for the largest share of approved investments, contributing 63.5% or RM50.9 billion. A total of 2,025 projects were approved and will create more than 33,970 job opportunities, the largest potential employer in the economy. Around 89% of these jobs will be in the distributive trade, education, MSC status and healthcare sub sectors.

Domestic investments made up the largest portion, recording RM44.9 billion or 83.6% of the total approved investments for the services sector during this period. The rest or RM6.0 billion were from foreign sources.

For the period of January to June 2018, the total approved investments for the healthcare services sub-sector recorded a significant rise of 282.5% to RM1.1 billion from RM294.7 million in the first half last year. This is in line with the Government’s efforts to strengthen its healthcare delivery system by offering more private hospitals, ambulatory care services and private healthcare centres. From the seven approved projects, 93.3% were from domestic sources.

The increased investment performance for the services sector was also contributed by approved investments in the supporting services sub-sector, which recorded an increase of 248.1%. The bulk of the approved investments derived from green technology activities with investments of RM2.5 billion – of which 96.7% came from domestic sources. The green technology activities were led by energy generation projects with approved investments of RM2.3 billion followed by green services, energy conservation, green building and waste management projects (RM200.4 million). Other supporting services namely licensed warehouse, oil and gas services and integrated logistics were approved with five, three and 15 projects, recording investments of RM697 million, RM653 million and RM544.3 million respectively.

Meanwhile during this period, a total of 27 projects were approved to undertake research and development (R&D) activities as well as technology related activities. These contributed a total of RM52.3 million of approved investments, which were solely from domestic sources.

During this period, investments in global establishments rose by 157.1% to RM744.7 million from RM289.7 million in the same period last year. This was mainly due to a 430.4% increase in investments for Principal Hub projects, amounting to RM583.5 million; and a 211.1% rise in new representative offices (RE) to RM48.9 million. The bulk of these investments were once again by domestic investors, contributing 63% to the total.

Manufacturing Sector

Malaysia’s manufacturing sector remains resilient and recorded approved investments of RM20.2 billion from 287 manufacturing projects for the first half of 2018 as compared to RM16.7 billion from 299 manufacturing projects in the same period last year. The increase of 21.2% in terms of the value of investments is an indication that capital-intensive projects are dominating Malaysia’s manufacturing landscape.

The approved manufacturing projects will create 25,165 job opportunities. The jobs created include 530 electrical and electronics engineers, 607 mechanical engineers and 85 chemical engineers. In addition, the approved manufacturing projects will also require about 1,742 skilled craftsmen such as plant maintenance supervisors, tools and die makers, machinists, IT personnel, quality controllers, electricians and welders.

For 1H 2018, foreign investments in approved manufacturing projects rose by 63.1% to RM15.2 billion from RM9.3 billion in the corresponding period last year. The increase reflects the country’s competitiveness as a location of choice for investments. China accounted for RM6.5 billion or 43% of the total foreign investments, followed by Korea (16%), Japan (10%), Singapore (5%) and France (4%).

Notable investments include a new manufacturing project from China for the basic metals industry that involves utilising ‘blast furnace’ technology that not only produces quality end-products at a cheaper cost but can also contribute to a greener steel-making process. This project, which offers 98% of its total job opportunities to Malaysians, is expected to reduce imports of intermediate goods and will strengthen the metal and steel industry.

Another example is an expansion project by a French industry leader in thiochemicals technologies to produce high value added sulfur derivatives. The project, which will create an additional 33 job opportunities, is set to support the strong growth of the animal feed, petrochemical and refining markets in the region.

Others include a tier 1 aerospace company from UK that will be establishing its new aero engine component repair facility in Johor by 2019. The company intends to add research capability to the facility and will work with local knowledge institutes to adopt new technologies and grow its product offerings for the new generation of aero engines.

The targeted catalytic and high potential growth subsectors namely electrical & electronics, chemical & chemical products, machinery & equipment, medical devices and aerospace that continues to be emphasised under the 11th Malaysia Plan Mid-Term Review, contributed 26.7% (RM5.4 billion) to the total approved investments in the manufacturing sector. Once implemented, these projects will further energise the development and growth of the overall manufacturing sector.

Industries which recorded increased investments include the basic metal, rubber, transport equipment, plastic, fabricated metal, and textiles & textile products. These six industries constituted 62.4% (RM12.6 billion) of the total investments approved in the first half of 2018.

The capital intensity, measured by capital investment per employee (CIPE) ratio of projects approved within the sector increased to RM805,173 in January to June 2018 from RM767,611 in the same period last year. There were 4 projects approved with investments of at least RM1 billion, totalling RM8.6 billion (42.6%) of total investments approved in the manufacturing sector. As for investments of at least RM100 million, 29 projects were approved with total investments of RM15.2 billion (75.2%) of all investments approved in this sector. This shows that Malaysia continues to attract more capital intensive projects.

Primary Sector

The primary sector contributed RM9.1 billion or 11.3% to the total approved projects in the first half of 2018. The mining subsector continued to lead with approved investments of RM8.8 billion, followed by plantation and commodities with RM311.8 million and agriculture with RM38.7 million. These investments are expected to create 1,039 job opportunities. The mining subsector was dominated by oil and gas exploration activities. This solid performance by this subsector reflects Malaysia’s potential to be a leading hub for the oil and gas industry in the region.

Conclusion

Malaysia continues to welcome quality investments into the country that will contribute to enhancing the country’s technological capabilities, develop the local supply chain and increase the country’s export revenue. Malaysia is truly a land of opportunities, not just for investors from a few selected countries but for all those who have the spirit of entrepreneurship and are willing to contribute to the economic advancement of the country. The new Government is committed for Malaysia to remain pro-business with prudent and pragmatic policies to ensure a conducive environment for businesses to thrive.

Minister of International Trade and Industry, Datuk Darell Leiking, expressed his optimism on the performance of the Malaysian economy moving forward. “The foreign and local investments have risen by 35.3% and 10.5% respectively, which shows people’s confidence in the country. With the change of government that promotes transparency and our effort in restoring the confidence of investors, I am certain that the figure will increase even further for the second half of the year,” says Darell.

He has just concluded a trade mission to Japan and Korea last week and secured RM2.84 billion of potential investments, which he cited as an evidence of foreign investors’ faith in the new government and its investor-friendly policies led by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Despite the American-China trade war, says Darell, Malaysian economy continues to be resilient and with investments in segments that are moving up the value chain, we can look forward for the country being transformed into a knowledge-based, and skill-based advance economy.

Posted on : 29 October 2018

Malaysia Continues to Attract More Business Interest

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Industry Players Urged to Forge Ahead with New Strategies & Technologies

24 October 2018, Kuala Lumpur – In conjunction with the Malaysia Medical Device Expo 2018 (MyMEDEX 2018) the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) organised a panel session on the ‘Next Wave of Medical Devices Manufacturing: Shaping the Industry of the Future’ at the Malaysian International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), Kuala Lumpur today.

“The medical devices industry continues to be one of the high potential growth sectors under the 11^th Malaysia Plan’s Mid Term Review. Industry players, especially local companies, are urged to adopt new strategies and embrace emerging technologies. To stay competitive, companies need to prioritise productivity, accelerate automation and innovation, undertake more R&D and implement best industry practices. Through engagements such as this, MIDA hopes that more local compnies will be able to familiarise themselves with emerging trends that have a direct impact on the dynamics of the medical device industry,” said Datuk N. Rajendran, who moderated the panel session.

The session featured panellist from Vigilenz Medical Devices, Cochlear Malaysia, Siemens Malaysia and the Medical Device Authority (MDA).

“The need for agility, speed, quality, and compliance is becoming more important than ever in the medical device industry. With over 200 manufacturers in this industry alone in Malaysia, the time is now for these companies to embrace digitalisation so that they can effectively develop innovative medical devices and achieve faster time-to-market for the competitive edge against global manufacturers, especially If we are to maintain our leading position of exporting over 90% of our locally-manufactured medical devices, and boost foreign investors’ confidence towards our industry from their RM1.6bil (72.7%) worth of investment contribution,” said Siemens Malaysia President & CEO Mr Indranil Lahiri.

At the session, Mr. S.Choudhury, the CEO of Vigilenz Medical Devices Malaysia, a wholly owned Malaysian company that supplies medical and surgical products said, “For the country to embrace Industrial Revolution 4.0, we should pay much more attention to enhancing the skill sets of our university graduates in this realm of digitisation.”

Mr Samuel Pooranakaran, Director of Cochlear Malaysia Operations, a global leader in implantable hearing solutions, highlighted on the untapped human resources and manufacturing infrastructure for medical device manufacturing in Malaysia.

MYMEDEX 2018, held from 23 to 25 October, is the first initiative by the Medical Device Authority (MDA) supported by MIDA, to highlight the latest innovative technologies and advances of global medical devices. Recognising that medical device is one of the biggest industries in global healthcare, the expo offers a unique opportunity for all stakeholders to be immersed in an insightful one-stop centre for medical devices solutions.

MDA, an entity under the Ministry of Health to ensure that medical devices in Malaysia are of high quality, effective and safe, was represented by Mdm Ir. Sasikala, Director, Policy, Code & Standard Division during the panel session. “In maintaining the competitiveness of the industry, MDA will assist the local manufacturers to comply with the medical devices regulatory requirements,” assurred the MDA Director.

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About MIDA

For more information, please contact:

Puan Balkish Mohd Yasin

Director, Life Sciences & Medical Technology Division, MIDA

Tel.: 03-2267 3458 | Email: [email protected]

Posted on : 24 October 2018

Catching the Next Wave of Medical Devices Manufacturing

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Snapshot of New & Extended Incentives for the Manufacturing & Services Sectors

5 November 2018, Kuala Lumpur – “The new and extended incentives announced under Budget 2019 reflect Malaysia’s commitment in ensuring a conducive business environment for domestic and foreign investors against the backdrop of global challenges. As the principal investment promotion agency for the country, MIDA looks forward to the holistic study to review the 130 existing investment incentives under the purview of 32 Investment Promotion Agencies. This is in line with our continuous advocacy for incentives that are targeted, time-based and relevant to advances in technology and innovation. The review is timely to ensure the optimal use of the country’s resources,” said Dato’ Azman Mahmud, Chief Executive Officer of MIDA.

“MIDA has established an i-Incentives Portal under its Incentives Coordination and Collaboration Office (ICCO). This platform would be beneficial in assisting the review initiative as the portal is a one-stop centre that features information about all incentives currently available in the country. We would be pleased to share the information from ICCO and work with all relevant Government agencies and stakeholders for the review,” added Dato’ Azman.

For the manufacturing sector, companies should take advantage of the revisions of tax mechanisms and incentives, initiatives to promote the adoption of Industry 4.0, facilities for the production of environmentally-friendly plastics based on bio-resins and bio-polymers, incentives for SMEs as well as facilitation for logistics and transportation activities. MIDA has been encouraging the adoption of Industry 4.0 among industry players as it will provide the breakthrough necessary for Malaysia to increase its competitiveness on the world stage.

“One of the facilities provided by MIDA is the Automation Capital Allowance (ACA) which aims to encourage the quick adoption of automation, particularly in labour intensive industries. We also promote industry-academia collaborations and higher R&D activities to boost efficiency and productivity. With the large focus on Industry 4.0 in Budget 2019 and the launched of the Industry 4.0 blueprint known as Industry4WRD, we expect to see more high technology investments being realised in Malaysia. Under MIDA’s High Impact Fund, a Domestic Investment Strategic Fund (DISF) in the form of a matching grant is available to promote more R&D activities, international certification and standards as well as modernisation of facilities and equipment. MIDA has so far approved 308 projects with investments of RM14.7 billion, with an approved grant value of RM1.51 billion.We also trust that the double taxation deduction for expenses related to the National Dual Training Scheme for Industry 4.0 and other related programmes approved by MIDA will spur more companies to train or upscale their workforce in Industry 4.0 activities,” said the CEO of MIDA.

Budget 2019a

For the services sector, there were new introductions and revisions of incentives for principal hubs, green technology, tourism and healthcare tourism, technical education and vocational training (TVET), institutions of higher learning and utilisation of local service providers.

Budget 2019b

“While Principal Hub companies seeking an extension are now subjected to a tax rate, this review allows a broader scope of companies to benefit from the PH scheme such as companies with lower value-added income. In the long term, we believe that this revised scheme will increase the investment performance of the services sector as PH investments are the largest contributor to the overall foreign direct investments in the services sector under MIDA’s purview,” highlighted Dato’ Azman.

On the bold measures in supporting new technology developments, Dato’ Azman said, “Under the 9^th Strategy of Budget 2019, MIDA is excited about the prospects of alternative financing sources including streamlining the many venture capital funds managed by Government agencies and allocation of RM50 million to set up a Co-Investment Fund to invest alongside private investors via equity crowdfunding and peer-to-peer financing. MIDA looks forward to work hand-in-hand with these entities towards bringing Malaysian companies that are financially limited but possess high potential in new technology areas.”

Given the more realistic and attainable fiscal positions under Budget 2019 and added clarity in policy directions for investors, the years ahead are expected to be positive particularly with the many initiatives in place to create a more dynamic economy for Malaysia.

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About MIDA

MIDA is the government’s principal promotion agency under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) to oversee and drive investments into the manufacturing and services sectors in Malaysia. Starting operations in 1967 with a relatively small set up of 37 staff, MIDA has grown to become a strong and dynamic organisation of over 700 employees. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur Sentral, MIDA today has 12 regional and 20 overseas offices. For more information, please visit www.mida.gov.my and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, @OfficialMIDA.

For more information, please contact:

Ms Choo Wai Meng

Executive Director Strategic Planning (Manufacturing), MIDA

Tel.: 03-2267 3434 | Email: [email protected]

Ms Lim Bee Vian

Executive Director Strategic Planning (Services), MIDA

Tel.: 03-2267 6677 | Email: [email protected]

Posted on : 05 November 2018

Budget 2019 Reflects Malaysia’s Commitment to Ensure a Conducive Business Environment

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The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) launched its i-Services Portal during the National Investment Seminar 2018 today. It is a business linkage platform to connect service providers and their potential clients, which consists both local and foreign companies.

30 October 2018, Kuala Lumpur – The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) launched its i-Services Portal during the National Investment Seminar 2018 today. It is a business linkage platform to connect service providers and their potential clients, which consists both local and foreign companies.

The National Investment Seminar 2018 was graced by YB Datuk Darell Leiking, Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI). During YB Minister’s speech, he emphasised on the need for Malaysia to have world class enterprises. “I believe our local companies that continue to develop from strength to strength over the years, has the potential to drive Malaysia towards this next phase of economic growth. The world is moving its focus to Asia, and Malaysia is well-positioned to seize these opportunities. We have all the advantages to compete globally. The trade war that is going on has provided us an opportunity for Malaysia to rise up and reclaim our rightful place as an ‘Asian Tiger’ once again,” said YB Datuk Darell.

The mid-term review of the 11th Malaysia Plan, which was recently announced by YAB Prime Minister, has highlighted the importance of ‘shared prosperity’, ensuring that the fruits of development are enjoyed by every state and every Malaysian.

“Our companies need to move fast to upscale their operations to be on the same level playing field with global players. Prioritise on productivity, accelerate automation and innovation, undertake more R&D and implement best industry practices. We need to focus on these areas if we are to expand market outreach and increase readiness in meeting international requirements,” added YB MITI Minister.

Dato’ Azman Mahmud, Chief Executive Officer of MIDA in his opening speech, “In addition to the i-Services Portal, MIDA has set up a dedicated team under our Domestic Investment & Supply Chain (DISC) Division to link up companies with potential funders, technology providers, research institutions and business partners. The team has identified and collaborated with various institutions. As to date we have engaged with 140 companies and 40 partners providing financial support including private equity firms. We would like to encourage interested parties to register your interest with MIDA by reaching out to any of our MIDA officials for further details on this exciting initiative.”

The National Investment Seminar 2018 was well attended by over 500 participants from various fields, including local and foreign business chambers, government agencies, manufacturers, service providers and potential investors. The seminar featured two panel sessions by a broad range of speakers from the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Energy Commission, Malaysian Global Innovation & Creativity Centre (MaGIC) and Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) as well as government agencies such as Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), Malaysian Industrial Development Finance Berhad (MIDF) and Export-Import Bank of Malaysia Berhad (EXIM Bank). There were also business clinics and consultation services provided by MITI, MIDA and other related agencies.

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About MIDA i-Services Portal

Launched on 29 October 2018, the i-Service Portal is a business linkage platform to connect service providers and their potential clients, which consists both local and foreign companies. Local service providers are encouraged to register their businesses in the portal as this will be an effective, cost-efficient medium for them to showcase their capabilities in their areas of expertise. This gateway will also help them expand their markets and further boost business activities. Services that are available in portal include Accounting, Distribution and Logistics, Engineering, Education, Environmental Protection, ICT and other Professional & Technical Services. Please log on to http://iservices.mida.gov.myfind out more.

About MIDA

MIDA is the government’s principal promotion agency under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) to oversee and drive investments into the manufacturing and services sectors in Malaysia. Starting operations in 1967 with a relatively small set up of 37 staff, MIDA has grown to become a strong and dynamic organisation of over 700 employees. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur Sentral, MIDA today has 12 regional and 20 overseas offices. For more information, please visit www.mida.gov.my and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, @OfficialMIDA.

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Ahmad Tajudin Omar

Director, Domestic Investment and Supply Chain Coordination Division, MIDA

Tel.: 03-2267 3627 | Email: [email protected]

SPEECH By YBHG DATO’ AZMAN MAHMUD CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF MIDA

INPUTS ON i-SERVICES PORTAL

Session I – Sales Tax

Session I – Services Tax

Session I-MaGIC

Session I-Energy Commission

Session II 01-MIDA

Session II 02-MATRADE

Session II 03-MIDF

Session II 04-EXIM Bank

Posted on : 30 October 2018

MIDA i-Services Portal Launched at National Investment Seminar 2018

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The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) today announced the outcome of their participation at the 9th International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition and Conference Malaysia (IGEM 2018) that was held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, last month

28 November 2018, Kuala Lumpur – The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) today announced the outcome of their participation at the 9th International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition and Conference Malaysia (IGEM 2018) that was held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, last month.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of MIDA, Dato’ Azman Mahmud, “MIDA recorded 111 potential business projects worth RM4.1 billion in the areas of green technology for the manufacturing and services sector. Of the total, RM3.7 billion will be in the services sector while the rest are investments in manufacturing projects. We are excited to share that from the total, MIDA has secured 18 projects with investments of RM557 million mainly in the areas of renewable energy from solar and biogas, energy efficiency (EE), green building and green services.”

This follows the encouraging trend of investment leads received throughout MIDA’s participation in IGEM since 2014.

Year	Investment Leads (RM Billion)
2014	1.53
2015	1.26
2016	1.23
2017	5.19
2018	4.10

As the strategic partner of IGEM 2018, MIDA was involved in various programmes including business consultations, four sessions of ‘Pocket Talks’, a forum on Green Financing, a Financial Industry dialogue and an Energy Efficiency townhall.

IGEM is the biggest flagship event organised annually by the Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment & Climate Change (MESTECC) to create a platform for solution providers and green energy businesses to tap into the fast expanding ASEAN market by showcasing the latest innovations to policy makers, government organisations, investors and the mass market.

“MIDA will continue to collaborate with MESTECC to engage and participate in IGEM as it is a good platform for MIDA to connect with our stakeholders towards encouraging more investments in green projects. This is in line with the green initiatives driven by MESTECC to meet Malaysia’s aspirations for sustainable growth,” said the CEO of MIDA.

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About MIDA

MIDA is the government’s principal promotion agency under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) to oversee and drive investments into the manufacturing and services sectors in Malaysia. Starting operations in 1967 with a relatively small set up of 37 staff, MIDA has grown to become a strong and dynamic organisation of over 700 employees. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur Sentral, MIDA today has 12 regional and 20 overseas offices. For more information, please visit www.mida.gov.my and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, @OfficialMIDA.

For more information, please contact:

Ms Wan Hashimah Wan Salleh

Director

Green Technology Division, MIDA

Tel.: 03-2267 3540

Email: [email protected]

Posted on : 28 November 2018

MIDA Attracts 111 Potential Green Projects worth RM4.1 Billion at IGEM 2018

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The Association of Malaysian Medical Industries (AMMI) today announced its Medical Device Industry Status and Outlook Report 2018/2019 which is based on a survey completed by 46 AMMI members, constituting a 69% response rate. The report contains comprehensive analysis of export overview, sourcing of raw materials and components, growth in cumulative investments and challenges faced by the industry as well as the medical device industry’s outlook for 2019.

According to the report, AMMI members recorded an outstanding value-added ratio of 52% in the medical device industry in Malaysia. Equally impressive is the fact that some RM3.43 billion or 59% worth of raw materials and services were locally sourced from within the country. This reflects AMMI’s commitment in supporting government initiatives to develop local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The report also highlighted that 74% of the AMMI members surveyed indicated that they have future expansion plans in the pipeline, involving buildings, machinery, equipment, facilities and product lines. The combined projected value of these foreseeable future expansion plans is about RM1.5 billion (USD361 million).

The total value of cumulative investments reported by respondents to the association’s survey stood at RM7.0 billion, as at December 2017 – more than doubling 2013’s total of RM3.4 billion. Collective yearly investments for 2017 jumped four-fold to RM967.9 million from just RM215.2 million in 2013.

AMMI Chairman, Mr Christophe Marque noted that, “AMMI members reported that combined export sales rose to RM11.4 billion, up from RM9.7 billion the previous year. This outpaces most global indices, with a healthy 16.3% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2013 and 2017. Significantly AMMI members accounted for 58% of Malaysia’s total export value of all Made in Malaysia medical devices, including medical gloves.”

“Medical devices remain among the high potential growth subsectors that are prioritised under the mid-term review of the 11 Malaysia Plan. In January-September 2018, a total of 15 manufacturing projects in this industry were approved by MIDA with investments of RM641.2 million. These projects involving implantable hearing devices, orthopaedic, endoscopy and peripheral products will contribute significantly in terms of business and job opportunities to the country,” said YB Dr. Ong Kian Ming, Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI).

“As the industry is increasingly being driven by emerging technology, we encourage the local industry players to tap into the growing opportunities available and forge ahead with new strategies to stay competitive. Companies also need to focus on upskilling their talents, prioritise productivity, accelerate automation and innovation, and implement industry best practices,” added the Deputy MITI Minister.

In commending AMMI’s latest industry report, Dato’ Azman Mahmud, Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) said, “Malaysia continues to evolve as a manufacturing hub for medical devices in Asia, with a big majority of the medical devices manufactured in the country are meant for exports. The industry has also grown in terms of sophistication of the type of products manufactured in the medical consumables, diagnostic imaging, orthopedics and prosthetics, patient aids and other medical devices sub-sectors. Companies, especially local players, must leverage on our competitive and comparative advantages particularly in our comprehensive electrical and electronic, and machinery and equipment base in addition to the strong network of local suppliers. The medical devices industry has seen continuous new investments and expansion by domestic and foreign industry players and this trend is expected to remain in the upcoming years with investors showing strong confidence in the industry outlook.”

AMMI highlighted that the US-China trade war will have a positive impact on Malaysia. 50% of AMMI members surveyed are optimistic of double digit growth in export sales. Malaysia continues to evolve as a hub for medical device manufacturing, with over 200 medical device manufacturing companies thriving within a well-connected industry ecosystem. Based on AMMI analysis, the export of medical devices from Malaysia is expected to cross RM23 billion (USD5.5 billion) in 2019 with projected 8% on year on year growth.

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About AMMI

Formed in 1989, the Association of Malaysian Medical Industries (AMMI), represents leading medical device manufacturing companies in the medical technology industry in Malaysia. AMMI currently has 71 member companies and collectively, they account for more than half of the total export revenue for “Made-in-Malaysia” medical devices.

AMMI members share a common commitment to quality and are reputable international and local firms that strictly adhere to the quality management system codes laid down by governmental agencies. AMMI companies continue to be the growth base of the medical device industry in Malaysia and consist of three main types of industry players: manufacturers; suppliers of raw materials and services to the medical devices manufacturing companies; and importers and exporters of medical devices, all of whom employ a sizable workforce in their production facilities.

Press contact:

Association of Malaysian Medical Industries

Email : [email protected]

Ms. Melissa Khoo

Head of Marketing and Communications

Tel : 016 4224 818

Mr. Ching Choon Siong

Executive Director

Tel : 012 4766 558

About MIDA

MIDA is the government’s principal promotion agency under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) to oversee and drive investments into the manufacturing and services sectors in Malaysia. Starting operations in 1967 with a relatively small set up of 37 staff, MIDA has grown to become a strong and dynamic organisation of over 700 employees. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur Sentral, MIDA today has 12 regional and 20 overseas offices. For more information, please visit www.mida.gov.my and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, @OfficialMIDA.

For more information, please contact:

Puan Balkish Mohd Yasin,

Director of Life Sciences & Medical Technology Division, MIDA

Tel: 03-22673458

Email: [email protected]

Download AMMI Industry Report

Posted on : 06 December 2018

Export of Made-in-Malaysia Medical Devices Expected to Cross RM23 Billion in 2019

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Kuala Lumpur, 20 December 2018 – Malaysia attracted a total of RM139.3 billion worth of investments in the manufacturing, services and primary sectors for the first nine months of 2018. This was an 18% increase from the RM118.1 billion approved in the same period last year. The total investments approved in January-September 2018 were from 3,243 projects and are expected to generate 93,379 job opportunities for Malaysia.

Approved foreign direct investments (FDI) increased by 109.7% to RM64.1 billion in January-September 2018 from RM30.5 billion in the same period last year. This was mainly driven by the manufacturing sector which recorded a strong increase of 249.4% in January-September 2018. Approved FDI in the primary sector also rose by 99.3%. This indicates that investor confidence in Malaysia remains high despite the challenging global economic environment. Meanwhile, domestic investments led with RM75.2 billion, contributing 54% to the total approved investments in all three sectors.

Manufacturing Sector

Malaysia continues to be a competitive location for manufacturing projects. A total of 468 projects worth RM59.1 billion were approved in January-September 2018 compared with RM34.6 billion in 463 projects in the corresponding period of 2017, representing an increase of 70.5% in capital investments.

Foreign investments approved in the manufacturing sector recorded a total of RM48.8 billion for January-September 2018, a rise of 249.4% from RM13.9 billion in the same period last year. China accounted for RM15.6 billion or 32% of total foreign investments, followed by Indonesia (18.4%), the Netherlands (17%), US (6.3%), Korea (4.9%) and Japan (4.3%).

Notable investments include a new manufacturing project from Leaf Malaysia OpCo, a US based company that will be setting up a facility in Johor to convert plant-based biomass into fermentable sugars. “The first plant is expected to begin operations in 2021 and will create 60 job opportunities for highly skilled local workforce. Our 2G biomass products have a wide range of applications for domestic and export markets, including energy, fuels, bio-plastics and high value specialty chemicals. We have also identified a strategic local partner for our Johor BioHub operations,” said Leaf Malaysia’s Managing Director, Jason Jones.

Another quality project is an expansion by STMicroelectronics, a global semiconductor MNC which has been in Malaysia since four decades ago. Its Malaysian plant is a key manufacturing facility for STMicroelectronics’ global assembly and test manufacturing. It is also the centre of excellence for development and manufacturing of automotive semiconductors. Approximately 70% of the semiconductors produced in this plant are dedicated to the automotive sector.

Malaysia has huge potentials to collaborate with these foreign companies and benefit from the transfer of knowledge and expertise across many industries. As the principal investment promotion agency of the country, MIDA continues to encourage local sourcing by foreign companies. Through the outsourcing of manufacturing, FDI has been driving technology by nurturing Malaysian companies to become global champions. For example, domestic industry players Vitrox, Pentamaster and Walta have established a one-stop metal component supply chain hub initiative known as the Penang Automation Cluster (PAC). The group leverages on the capabilities of human resources and availability of technical and vocational education in the country, which provides technical skills training to meet the demands of high precision and high quality metal fabrication parts and modules by multinational companies and large local companies.

“Our new investment will focus on building and managing the local supply chain ecosystem of advanced and precision engineering of metal fabrication. This will improve cost competitiveness through local sourcing of high precision parts and produce competitive products for the international market. Besides, with the adoption of Industrial 4.0 world class smart manufacturing in PAC, we will further attract high impact FDI and create job opportunities in the region. PAC will be the showcase of a successful model in stimulating more SME clustering concepts to support nation building,” said Mr Chu Jenn Weng, Director of PAC.

Under the 11th Malaysia Plan Mid-Term Review, the targeted catalytic and high potential growth subsectors namely electrical and electronics, chemicals and chemical products, machinery and equipment, medical devices and aerospace, continue to be emphasised. These industries contributed 31.5% (RM18.6 billion) to the total approved investments in the manufacturing sector. Other industries which recorded increased investments are petroleum products (including petrochemicals); basic metal products; paper, printing and publishing; rubber products; machinery and equipment; and transport equipment. These six industries constituted 63.5% (RM37.5 billion) of total investments approved during this period.

Investors have responded positively to the Government’s initiatives towards attracting investments in capital-intensive, high-value added and high technology projects. This is reflected in the increase of the capital investment per employee (CIPE) ratio to RM1,439,583 in the first nine months of 2018 from RM1,062,113 during the same period of this year.

The approved manufacturing projects will create 41,033 job opportunities. The jobs created include 775 electrical and electronics engineers, 867 mechanical engineers and 142 chemical engineers. In addition, the approved manufacturing projects will also require about 5,628 skilled craftsmen such as plant maintenance supervisors, tools and die makers, machinists, IT personnel, quality controllers, electricians and welders.

Services Sector

For the period of January-September 2018, approved investments in the services sector amounted to RM69.9 billion compared with RM74.2 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2017. These investments were from a total of 2,721 projects and are expected to create 50,896 job opportunities. Domestic investments made up the largest portion, recording RM60.4 billion or 86.4% of the total approved investments for the services sector during this period. The rest or RM9.5 billion were from foreign sources. The services subsectors that showed an increase in approved investments were healthcare, education, global establishments, real estate and supporting services.

The approved investments for the supporting services sub-sector recorded a rise of 24.8% to RM4.8 billion in the first nine months of this year from RM3.9 billion in the corresponding period last year. The bulk of the approved investments were from green technology activities with investments of RM2.7 billion, whereby 96.8% were from domestic investments. These activities were led by energy generation projects with approved investments of RM2.4 billion, followed by energy conservation (RM120.1 million), green services (RM91.7 million), green building (RM23.8 million) and waste management projects (RM16 million).

A notable energy generation project that was approved during this period is an expansion project by Tadau Energy. According to its Managing Director, Ms Susanna Lim,“Our base in Kudat, Sabah is an ideal location for a solar power plant as the northern Sabah district has clear and unpolluted skies, and gets a large amount of direct sunlight. The development of this project has the greatest potential for Malaysia especially Sabah to transition to clean energy as it will save the environment from approximately 50,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission and can power more than 30,000 homes annually. Overall, the company has created more than 200 job opportunities for the local community.”

Approved investments for global establishments also saw an increase of 95.7% during the first nine months of 2018. MIDA approved 149 projects proposing to make Malaysia their Principal Hubs, Regional Offices or Representative Offices. Investments in these projects amounted to RM4.1 billion, with significant spin-off effects on the economy. These activities are expected to create job opportunities for 1,598 knowledge-based or highly technical-skilled workers, as well as positioning Malaysia on course for greater integration into the global supply chains/global value chains.

Out of the total, MIDA has approved four Principal Hubs with investments worth RM3.8 billion. Among them is a business venture by Jobstreet.com, a leading online employment marketplace in Asia. “After having merged with a Hong Kong based company in 2014, Jobstreet had an important task to decide where to locate the Principal Hub of the newly created venture. Malaysia was chosen because it is strategically located in the region, enjoys strong government support in the technology industry as well as the availability of incentive to help businesses like JobStreet. Our investment in Malaysia will also bring tangible benefits to the country, through the creation of employment especially in high value and managerial positions and, our capital and operational spending will allow us to contribute back to the economy,” said Mr Jakson Peters, the company’s Chief Financial Officer.

Primary Sector

In January – September 2018, the primary sector attracted investments worth RM10.3 billion or 7.4% of total approved investments in this period. This sector comprises three main sub-sectors namely agriculture, mining and, plantation and commodities. Investments by foreign sources totalled RM5.8 billion (56.3%) while domestic investments contributed RM4.5 billion (43.7%). The mining sub-sector took the lead with approved investments of RM9.7 billion in 22 projects, followed by the plantation and commodities sub-sector with investments of RM501.5 million, and the agriculture sub-sector making up the rest of approved investments.

Conclusion

The Government will ensure that the Malaysian economy remains on a sustainable growth trajectory by providing a conducive and favourable environment to attract investors and businesses. Quality FDI continues to assume an important role in the development of Malaysia due to its multiplier impact on the economy. The strong presence of foreign investments in the manufacturing sector, in particular, has helped to enlarge the market through the growth of the local supply chain ecosystem and related services industry. MIDA continues to urge industries to leverage on growing opportunities by embracing advanced technology to enhance productivity and competitiveness.

*****Posted on : 20 December 2018

Malaysia Records RM139.3 Billion of Approved Investments For January-September 2018

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The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) collaborated with the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) and Sabah state authorities to organise the fourth and last installation of its industrial park forum series, held today at the Marriot Hotel, Sabah. The event was graced by YB Dr. Ong Kian Ming, Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI). Also present was YB Tuan Chong Chen Bin, Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Trade and Industries, Sabah and Senior Executive Director of MIDA, Mr. Zabidi Mahbar

17 December 2018, Kota Kinabalu – The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) collaborated with the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) and Sabah state authorities to organise the fourth and last installation of its industrial park forum series, held today at the Marriot Hotel, Sabah. The event was graced by YB Dr. Ong Kian Ming, Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI). Also present was YB Tuan Chong Chen Bin, Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Trade and Industries, Sabah and Senior Executive Director of MIDA, Mr. Zabidi Mahbar.

During his keynote address, the Deputy MITI Minister highlighted that Sabah has many opportunities for investments in new growth areas. “Each region in Malaysia is unique in its comparative and competitive advantages. For Sabah, its abundance of natural and agricultural resources has long made this state a base for industrial development. Building on these strengths, there are many untapped opportunities for resource-based manufacturing facilities, particularly in moving downstream and producing high quality goods and services. Having the upstream and downstream industry players in close proximity improves speed and cost of production,” said YB Dr. Ong.

“For Sabah to attract the type of quality investments that we desire, the state needs good industrial parks that can meet the requirements of these industries. It is important to find win-win solutions, and not to keep investors waiting for infrastructure to be built especially in the provision of electricity, water and roads, as these are the basic infrastructure needs for any industry to operate. I urge technical agencies and utility providers such as Telekom Malaysia, Tenaga Nasional Berhad, and Gas Malaysia to come on board and be proactive in supporting investors in these areas,” added YB Deputy Minister of MITI.

Mr Zabidi, in his welcome speech, said, “Sabah is certainly one of Malaysia’s destinations for investment. Following our Invest Sabah briefing held at the MIDA HQ in October, we have received encouraging interest. Tomorrow, there will be 19 eager investors from 11 companies flying into Sabah to explore for themselves the opportunities available in the areas of Oil & Gas, Logistics, Engineering Services, Infrastructure Development and Consulting Services, for their expansion plans.”

As at December 2017, a total of 761 manufacturing projects with investments worth RM15.1 billion have been implemented in Sabah. More than 90,000 jobs have been created from these projects particularly in the food manufacturing, paper, printing & publishing, wood & wood products, chemical & chemical products, and non – metallic mineral products sectors. For the first 9 months of 2018, Sabah continues to attract additional approved investments of RM140.9 million, mainly in basic metal products, food manufacturing, petroleum products including petrochemicals and non-metallic mineral products.

The Industrial Park and Investment Facilitation Forum was well attended by over 250 participants from various fields, including business chambers, local authorities, park developers & managers, utility companies, manufacturers and potential investors. The forum featured two panel discussions that focused on the industrial park ecosystem and investment facilitation.

The first panel session involved sharings from three Sabah industrial park developers namely the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP), POIC Sabah and Sabah Oil & Gas Development Corporation (SOGDC) as well as representatives from the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM), RWDC Industries Asia Pacific and OFO Tech. The session was moderated by Datuk Chong Hon Len, President of the Federation of Sabah Industries (FSI). Meanwhile, the second session was moderated by Datuk Dr. Mohd Yaakub Haji Johari, Chief Executive of the Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA) and featured representatives from MITI, MIDA, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), Export-Import Bank of Malaysia Bhd (Exim Bank), SIRIM and Malaysian Industrial Development Finance (MIDF).

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For more information, please contact:

Mr. Syed Kamal Muzaffa

Deputy Director, Domestic Investment and Supply Chain Coordination Division, MIDA

Tel.: 03-2267 3636 | Email:[email protected]

Speech by Deputy Minister of International Trade & Industry_Sabah Industrial Park

Speech by Senior Executive Director of MIDA_Sabah Industrial Park

Posted on : 17 December 2018

MIDA Industrial Park Forum Highlights Investment Potential in Sabah

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