Kedah continues to draw in major investments amid pandemic – MB
23 Jun 2021
Kedah has continued to draw in major investments despite the pandemic, with the latest being an RM8.5 billion project from Austria which was announced recently by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said an investment delegation from the company, Austria Technologie and Systemtechnik AG, led by Austria’s ambassador to Malaysia Michael Postl, had visited the factory site in the Kulim High Technology Park (KHTP).
“Discussions with the company from Austria are going well, it shows they are keen and positive and on our part, the state government will ensure that the plot of land is big enough.
“I understand that the factory will be built in several phases and finding a skilled workforce will be a challenge,” he told a media conference after chairing an exco meeting via the application Zoom here today.
The project will need about 5,000 engineers in the first phase which is expected to be operational by 2024, while 10,000 skilled workers will be needed for subsequent phases.
The Austrian company is a major producer of high-end printed circuit boards and integrated circuit substrates.
The Kedah government and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) will hold negotiations with institutions of higher learning in the country for them to supply the required skilled workforce, according to the mentri besar.
“Our students need to be ‘tailor-made’ for this area of work to ensure an adequate supply of human capital to meet the demand of investors to the country, especially Kedah,’’ Muhammad Sanusi said.
The Austrian company is expected to start building the factory beginning this September or November.
“This (investment) is a big achievement for Kedah because, despite the pandemic, we have managed to attract a major investment which will create job opportunities and contribute to the country’s economic growth,” he said.
Source: Bernama
