American investments in Malaysia

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Intel to Spend $7 Billion on Big Malaysia Chipmaking Expansion
By Yantoultra Ngui 13 December 2021

Intel Corp. is spending $7 billion to build a new chip packaging facility in Malaysia, a major Asian investment intended to address endemic global semiconductor shortages at a time Washington is advocating domestic production.

The U.S. chipmaker intends to invest 30 billion ringgit on shoring up its advanced chip packaging capabilities in the island state of Penang, Malaysia’s main investment promotion agency said in a press invitation distributed Monday. It will elaborate on its plans for the Asian country during a press briefing Wednesday in conjunction with Trade Minister Azmin Ali and Malaysian Investment Development Authority Chief Executive Officer Arham Abdul Rahman, according to the invite.

The event coincides with Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s first visit to Southeast Asia. CEO Pat Gelsinger took the helm of the largest American chipmaker in February with a mandate to take back leadership of the industry from Asian giants such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Investors want Gelsinger to staunch market share losses and customer defections stemming in part from stumbles in upgrading technology.

At the same time, years of global industry under-investment and a surge in Covid-era demand for computing devices have created an unprecedented shortage of the semiconductors needed in everything from cars to smartphones.

Gelsinger is in Taiwan and Malaysia this week for talks that underscore how Asian manufacturing will be crucial to his turnaround efforts. His trip will include a meeting with leaders of TSMC, according to people familiar with his plans.

Intel both needs TSMC’s advanced manufacturing services and plans to compete with the Taiwanese company in the so-called foundry business, a tricky balancing act for the CEO. Apart from Malaysia, Intel also operates a plant in Dalian, China.

This is Gelsinger’s first trip to Asia since taking the top job at Intel and comes as he lobbies the U.S. government to allocate money for the country’s chip industry to domestic chipmakers only. He has argued that overseas manufacturers -- such as TSMC and Samsung Electronics Co., which both have plans to build plants in the U.S. -- shouldn’t get money through the Chips Act, which is going through political approvals in Washington. As part of those efforts, he’s argued the concentration of advanced manufacturing in Asia and Taiwan is a strategic risk.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...king-expansion

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Intel’s RM30b Penang investment to create over 4,000 jobs, says Azmin
Sulhi Khalid December 16, 2021 10:23 am +08


https://www.theedgemarkets.com/artic...obs-says-azmin

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Boustead partners US firm to develop tokenization capabilities
Justin Lim January 13, 2022 19:12 pm +08

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 13): Boustead Holdings Bhd is teaming up with US firm Accubits Technologies FZ LLE to develop capabilities for real estate asset tokenization and sustainable green energy tokenization.

Accubits is an enterprise solutions development company specializing in artificial intelligence and blockchain technologies based in Virginia, with offices in India and UAE.

In a bourse filing, Boustead said the two sides inked a Memorandum of Understanding on Thursday to “develop the partnership co-operation between Boustead and Accubits on the basis of equality and mutual benefit”.

The MoU, which has a duration of one year, is not expected to have any material effect on its earnings for the financial year ending Dec 31, 2022, but will contribute positively to its future earnings, said Boustead.

Boustead’s share price closed one sen or 1.8% higher at 56.5 sen, giving the group a market capitalisation of RM1.15 billion.

https://www.theedgemarkets.com/artic...n-capabilities

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US aerospace firm expands maintenance repair and operation (MRO) services in Malaysia to cater for growing fleet of ATRs in the region

KLANG Selangor, Malaysia (Jan. 20, 2021) – To better serve growing ATR fleets in the Asia Pacific region, Collins Aerospace is launching new MRO capabilities for its 568F propeller at its Malaysia campus. IATA III operators of ATR 42 and ATR 72 turboprop aircraft will have access to a local pool of rotable spares. Collins will begin standing up the new services in 2022.

Initially, the exchange program will be supported by local operations to assess hardware preservation and condition, while the repairs and major inspections will be supported by Collins’ existing MRO centers in Europe, ensuring operators receive comprehensive and top quality OEM services.

“In the next decade, the ATR fleet is poised to enjoy significant growth in the Asia Pacific region and we’ll be there to support the increased demand,” said Nicolas Lérisson, aftermarket director, Propeller Systems for Collins Aerospace. “These new, local MRO services will bring faster exchanges and reduced transportation costs to our airline customers—ultimately supporting more efficient operations.”

Collins’ 568F six-blade propeller is currently flying in over 100 countries on more than 900 aircraft comprising the global fleet of ATR 42/72 aircraft.

https://www.collinsaerospace.com/new...es-in-Malaysia

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Amcham: US firms invest RM165.73b in Malaysia despite Covid-19
Bernama February 08, 2022 18:31 pm +08

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 8): The American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (Amcham) has said that a total of RM165.73 billion have been invested by American companies into the Malaysian economy despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to Amcham’s 2020/21 Economic Impact Survey (EIS) of 80 member companies, more than 130,000 people have been employed, with 90% local hires, and contributions of more than RM100 billion were made towards the country’s export earnings.

Chairman Antony Lee said the survey highlights the commitment of American firms to helping create a thriving business environment that creates jobs and opportunities for ordinary Malaysians.

The EIS also revealed that 85% of businesses surveyed expect to grow over the coming year.

“I’m particularly pleased about the positive economic outlook that our members have for the national economy over the coming 12 months,” Lee said in a statement on Tuesday (Feb 8).

The survey also highlighted that Amcham members have provided direct support to the Malaysian economy by sourcing nearly RM20 billion worth of goods and services locally and signing more than 10,000 contracts worth more than RM100,000 each with local businesses.

Meanwhile, Amcham chief executive officer Siobhan Das said the success of its members in Malaysia is particularly visible in the manufacturing, agribusiness, extraction and energy, and service industries.

“Malaysia is now a critical node in many global supply chains, demonstrating the success of our members in developing local talent and businesses for the global stage.

“With the recent influx of US investments, we look forward to the ecosystem expanding and propelling the country to further economic success,” she said.

https://www.theedgemarkets.com/artic...espite-covid19

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Moderna to launch Malaysian subsidiary, seeks partners in vaccine manufacturing & development
By Farah Adilla - February 16, 2022 @ 8:27am
Moderna today announced plans to establish a new subsidiary in Malaysia, alongside three additional subsidiaries in Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
https://www.nst.com.my/business/2022...-manufacturing

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Collins Aerospace Relocates To Subang Aerotech Park And Expands MRO Operations | Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB)
16 FEBRUARY 2022
Collins Aerospace, a Raytheon Technologies subsidiary, is one of the world's largest suppliers of aerospace and defense products, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States.


https://www.malaysiaairports.com.my/...mro-operations

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GE Offices – Kuala Lumpur
KL Sentral












https://officesnapshots.com/2017/04/...-kuala-lumpur/

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Yondr Group plans 200MW hyperscale campus in Sedenak Tech Park
By Azanis Shahila Aman - March 28, 2022 @ 3:19pm

KUALA LUMPUR: Yondr Group has announced its entry into Malaysia with the development of a 200 megawatt (MW) hyperscale campus on 72.8 acres acquired from TPM Technopark Sdn Bhd.

The land is strategically located in Sedenak Tech Park, a flagship data centre complex spanning 700 acres of land in Johor, Malaysia.

The hyperscale campus will be developed across multiple phases and will deliver a total capacity of 200MW when fully completed, with the first phase scheduled for delivery in 2024.

With access to at least 600MW of capacity, dark fibre connectivity, scalable utilities and infrastructure, Sedenak Tech Park is home to some of the largest data and cloud players within the Southeast Asia region.

Yondr chief executive officer Dave Newitt said Malaysia is a significant part of its expansion plans within Southeast Asia.

Newitt said the company's ability to secure this critical location in Sedenak Tech Park complements its presence in Jakarta, Indonesia and further bolsters Yondr's strategic presence in this high growth market.

"Johor is close to other key data centre metros.

"This includes Singapore, which offers valuable interconnectivity routes, representing a true benefit for our clients, especially in combination with the scalability in meeting requirements of power and land," he said.

Meanwhile, TPM Technopark chairman Datuk Sri Akmal Ahmad said the company values Yondr's strategic decision to invest in Sedenak Tech Park as a testament of their confidence in its location and offerings as a world-class data hub for the region.

Akmal said the sheer scale of growing data consumption makes the development of hyperscale data centre infrastructures a compelling international and regional opportunity for both investors and operators.

"This exposure to Yondr's well-established partnerships with major hyperscale facilities will further fuel our technical infrastructure development dedicated to the nation and the region's fast-growing digital economy," he said.

https://www.nst.com.my/business/2022...enak-tech-park

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Honeywell collaborates with Petronas for strategic sustainability, digitalization and carbon neutral energy initiatives
By Azanis Shahila Aman - March 28, 2022 @ 2:56pm



https://www.nst.com.my/business/2022...talization-and

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Nasdaq-listed TTM Technologies to set up US$130 million plant in Penang
Surin Murugiah April 25, 2022 13:02 pm +08
This state-of-the-art, highly automated plant will be built upon approximately 27 acres of industrial land at Penang Science Park. Construction is expected to take 12 to 15 months followed by equipment installations in mid-2023.


https://www.theedgemarkets.com/artic...n-plant-penang
https://investpenang.gov.my/ttm-tech...nang-malaysia/

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US-based Swimlane establishes regional headquarters in Malaysia
By Farah Adilla - May 6, 2022 @ 11:01am



In a statement today, the company said the decision to establish Kuala Lumpur as Swimlane's regional headquarter was based on Malaysia having a thriving and diversified economy with world-class infrastructure, experienced and well-skilled partners, and a competitive talent pool that is multilingual.

KUALA LUMPUR: US-based Swimlane today has announced plans to open a regional headquarters in Kuala Lumpur as part of a strategic partnership with CyberSecurity Malaysia to create a more robust cyber environment in the region.

In a statement today, the company said the decision to establish Kuala Lumpur as Swimlane's regional headquarter was based on Malaysia having a thriving and diversified economy with world-class infrastructure, experienced and well-skilled partners, and a competitive talent pool that is multilingual.

Malaysia also provides tremendous business opportunities, especially for global companies seeking to bring their solution across the Asia Pacific region, it said.

CyberSecurity Malaysia chief executive officer Datuk Dr Amirudin Abdul Wahab said this strategic partnership with Swimlane is timely for CyberSecurity Malaysia.

It will help establish and extend the strategic cybersecurity vision in the region.


"Together, Swimlane and Cybersecurity Malaysia will bring their respective knowledge, expertise, capabilities, and products to offer innovative cybersecurity solutions in Malaysia and the region.

"As the national cybersecurity specialist and technical centre, CyberSecurity Malaysia welcomes such collaboration as it provides Malaysia with advanced technology, capability, and capacity to ensure our cyber environment is reliable, safe, and trustworthy," he said.

Swimlane co-founder and chief strategy officer Cody Cornell said the company's expansion into the Asia Pacific (APAC) is anchored on using its technology to enable anyone at any organisation to contribute their knowledge and expertise to the protection of their knowledge and expertise to the organisation.

"This is all while reducing the effort and total cost of ownership in achieving what previously impossible security goals were," he said.

Swimlane is a cloud-scale, low-code security automation platform.

Swimlane said the APAC region faces a significant cybersecurity talent shortage with an estimated 2.04 million open cybersecurity roles, accounting for 66 per cent of the total global shortage, thus signalling the struggle to find qualified, skilled professionals to handle increasing security alerts.

It said that globally, cybersecurity attacks are growing exponentially, making it a lot more difficult for organisations, especially in APAC, where there is a shortage of skilled cybersecurity talent.

As part of the strategic alliance, Swimlane and CyberSecurity Malaysia have identified three key initiatives, which are to drive awareness on how security operations automation can bring value to organisations, in-country talent skills development and bring its technology to enable existing as well as new technology partners like GlobeOSS Sdn Bhd in developing security automation & analytics solutions and services for the regional market.

GlobeOSS is investing in security services around Swimlane technology.

https://www.nst.com.my/business/2022...rters-malaysia

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US-based Indium Corp investing RM250mil manufacturing plant in Penang
By Azanis Shahila Aman - May 11, 2022 @ 10:28am

KUALA LUMPUR: Indium Corp, a US-based global materials supplier to the electronics assembly and semiconductor packaging industries, is investing RM250 million in a manufacturing plant in Penang.

The investment plan was announced during a meeting between Indium Corp and the Trade and Investment Mission (TIM) to the United States delegation led by the Senior Minister and Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI) Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.

According to Indium Corp, the new Penang-based facility, which spans 37,500 square feet, will manufacture finished products such as solder pastes, fluxes, and preforms.

The facility is anticipated to commence operation in two phases, with solder paste manufacturing by the end of 2022 and engineered materials manufacturing in 2023.

The project is also anticipated to create 88 high-value new jobs.

Mohamed Azmin said Indium's move to establish a presence in Malaysia could not come at a more opportune time towards ramping up Malaysia's economic recovery.

He said this is particularly so towards furthering Malaysia's strength in the electronics industry through the advancement of electronics materials solutions and its larger ecosystem.

"Indeed, this development provides a stepping stone for our local electronics industry, in line with our National Investment Aspirations (NIA) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals.

"It is exciting that Indium is currently planning to leverage Malaysia's capabilities in manufacturing operations and has expressed intentions to establish an R&D innovation lab and training facility, signifying its confidence in the local ecosystem and Malaysia's high-skilled talent.

"We look forward to this strategic partnership with Indium with its high value-added activities for mutually benefitting outcomes," he said.

Meanwhile, Indium Corp president and chief operating officer Ross Berntson said the company is proud to continue its more than 40-year history of doing business in Malaysia with this new manufacturing facility in Penang.

Supported by Malaysia's established supply chain ecosystem for the electronics industry, Berntson said this new location would allow Indium Corp to improve lead times for deliveries further while bringing the company closer to its customers in the region.

"We'd also like to express our thanks to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) for their assistance with this project," he added.

https://www.nst.com.my/business/2022...g-plant-penang

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Hershey opens new R&D centre in Malaysia, one of its largest outside US
By Azanis Shahila Aman - May 13, 2022 @ 5:50pm

KUALA LUMPUR: The Hershey Company has opened a new research and development (R&D) Centre in Malaysia to fuel its product innovation for markets around the world.

Located in Johor, Hersey said the new facility would enable it to quickly develop, test and launch new products customised to the tastes of consumers across the region.

"This facility will become one of Hershey's largest R&D facilities outside of the United States," it said in a statement.

According to Hersey, the 10,400 square-foot facility was a significant investment in the Malaysian market.

"This will enable the company to partner with various innovation teams to taste-test and shortlist iconic products known and loved by consumers across the globe," it said.

Hersey vice-president of India and Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa (AEMEA) Herjit Bhalla said the Malaysian facility would act as a central hub for the company's operations across the AEMEA region.

"Our new R&D Centre reflects our ongoing commitment to understanding the preferences of consumers across the markets," said Bhalla.

Hersey senior director of international R&D Philippe Zehnder said the investment in Malaysia was just one example of how Hershey was continuing to reinvent the science of confectionery through internal and external innovation.

"The new facility will allow our talented teams to gain deeper insights into consumers by enabling them to conceptualise, test, and develop some of the most innovative products across the region," said Zehnder.

https://www.nst.com.my/business/2022...est-outside-us

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Insulet to make huge investment in Malaysia, likely to create 500 quality jobs for locals, says Azmin
Niam Seet Wei/Bernama May 12, 2022 14:54 pm +08

WASHINGTON, DC (May 12): Global leader in tubeless insulin pump technology Insulet Corporation has planned to establish an insulin management facility in Johor on June 2 with a “significant amount” of investment, said Senior Minister and International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.

Azmin said the initial phase of the investment is expected to create about 500 quality high-skilled jobs for local talent.

“The success of this investment is not just in capital investment, but also to help build the supply chain ecosystem for our small and medium enterprises,” he told Bernama on the sidelines of the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob here on Wednesday evening (May 11).

Azmin is currently on a 10-day trade and investment mission in the US since May 8, while Ismail Sabri arrived here on Tuesday for a four-day working visit, including meeting US President Joe Biden and ASEAN leaders.

According to Azmin, Insulet has a long-term investment plan in Malaysia as it sees the country as a medical device manufacturing hub for it to cater to demand from not only Malaysia, but also from the region and other export markets.

He said a “big announcement” will be made on June 2 in conjunction with the launch of the new facility in Johor.

Insulet is an innovative medical device company producing Omnipod, an automated device used for diabetic patients to administer insulin.

Earlier on Wednesday, Azmin held a meeting with Insulet chief operating officer Charles Alpuche.

In a tweet, Azmin said Insulet’s decision to choose Malaysia was founded upon the nation’s excellent talent pipeline and accessibility to ports to support the supply chain.

“Insulet has expressed keen interest towards developing the local ecosystem and further advance knowledge transfer programmes through collaborative partnerships with universities and other industry stakeholders to upskill and reskill local talent.

“I expressed to Insulet that Malaysia is highly appreciative of this opportunity and looks forward to grow together with them,” he tweeted.

According to his tweet, Insulet’s investment would indeed open up vast opportunities for Malaysia, particularly in driving demand for local parts and components of medical device manufacturers.

“As a matter of fact, Alpuche informed me that Omnipod consists of 72 components, and they will outsource some of the components to local vendors in Malaysia.

“This will indeed open doors to bountiful possibilities for our local vendors to be integrated into the global supply chain of this industry,” according to Azmin.

In a separate tweet, Azmin shared that he had held a separate meeting with Boston Scientific Corporation, a leader in the medical device sector earlier on Wednesday.

“Since making its presence in Malaysia in 2015, Boston Scientific has continued to expand, powering the local medical industry through strategic collaborations with local vendor development efforts and capacity building programmes.

“With health gaining increasing prominence in the post-pandemic world, its presence in Malaysia will continue to positively impact the development of our medical device industry, adding further value to the ecosystem,” Azmin tweeted.

https://www.theedgemarkets.com/artic...als-says-azmin

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Malaysia bags nearly RM2b investment from TF AMD
Niam Seet Wei/Bernama May 13, 2022 12:52 pm +08

WASHINGTON, DC (May 13): Malaysia has secured nearly RM2 billion investment via semiconductor company TF AMD Microelectronics (Penang) Sdn Bhd following the handover of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority’s (MIDA) approval letter to the company on Thursday (May 12).

Senior Minister and International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said the investment is for the company’s expansion plan, which is poised to create 2,000 high-value jobs for Malaysians.

“Indeed, this is aligned with Malaysia's direction towards fostering innovation and high-impact value adding for local businesses and remaining as the manufacturing hub of the region,” he tweeted this after witnessing the handover ceremony along with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri here on Thursday.

The approval letter was handed over by MIDA chief executive officer Datuk Arham Abdul Rahman to TF AMD executive vice-president, chief financial officer and treasurer Datuk Devinder Kumar.

According to Azmin, TF AMD has invested about RM900 million in Malaysia to date.

“Devinder has expressed the company’s commitment to establishing collaborative opportunities with local vendors and universities.

“This includes targeting to employ more than 2,000 additional employees predominantly from the science and technical backgrounds as well as develop local vendors within the next five years in the areas of Industry 4.0, automation and engineering services,” he tweeted.

Azmin said TF AMD's growth journey with Malaysia spans five decades, and it had been investing in Malaysia across different parts of the semiconductor value chain through the years.

“TF AMD has played an integral role in developing the capacity and capability we witness in Malaysia's semiconductor ecosystem today.

He said with the wealth of knowledge that TF AMD brings, the strategic expansion would open up vast opportunities for not only providing high-skilled jobs, but also creating a strong talent pipeline through training programmes, upskilling and reskilling initiatives.

“I am optimistic that this partnership will see another 50 years and I look forward to be on this growth journey with TF AMD.

“To TF AMD, I say, 'We value your partnership, and we look forward to another 50 years in Malaysia,'” he tweeted.

Meanwhile, MIDA's Arham said the authority looks forward to the contribution from TF AMD to create more high-value jobs for Malaysians, more opportunities for small and medium enterprises for them to be part of the supply chain as well as collaborative opportunities with local vendors and universities.

“This is in line with Malaysia’s National Investment Aspirations, where we are targeting more high-tech, capital intensive and knowledge-driven projects into Malaysia,” he told Bernama on the sidelines of the handover ceremony.

https://www.theedgemarkets.com/artic...estment-tf-amd

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PM Ismail Sabri rolls out red carpet for American investors, eyes Tesla
Jamaluddin Muhammad/BernamaMay 12, 2022 09:32 am +08

WASHINGTON, DC (May 12): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on Wednesday (Thursday, May 12 in Malaysia) rolled out the red carpet for American investors and businessmen, and presented Malaysia as a preferred investment destination.

He welcomed them, especially the Fortune 500 companies, to invest or increase their investment, namely in economic digital, green technology and electric car sectors.

"I've suggested to Tesla to invest in Malaysia in producing electric cars," he told Malaysian journalists after meeting Ambassador Ted Osius, president and chief executive officer of the United States (US)-ASEAN Business Council (US-ABC) at a hotel here.

Set up in 1984, the US-ABC represents 170 major American businesses in Southeast Asia.

The prime minister, who arrived here on the previous day, is on a four-day working visit to the US, during which he would meet with President Joe Biden and ASEAN leaders.

Ismail Sabri said he has asked the US-ABC to play a bigger role in attracting investment to ASEAN, especially Malaysia.

https://www.theedgemarkets.com/artic...ors-eyes-tesla

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HRD Corp to form strategic partnership with Johns Hopkins University
Bernama May 16, 2022 16:00 pm +08

PUTRAJAYA (May 16): HRD Corp, an agency under the Ministry of Human Resources, will enter into a strategic partnership with Johns Hopkins University which involves skills training programmes to ensure Malaysian workers are prepared for the digital future.

Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan said the agreement on the strategic partnership was proposed when he visited Johns Hopkins University while in Washington, USA.

He said the collaboration included the provision of skills training programmes, especially in high and latest technology fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), 5G technology, cybersecurity, blockchain technology and several other programmes.

“I understand Johns Hopkins University was the first research university established in the US.

“I believe HRD Corp can leverage the expertise possessed by Johns Hopkins University in high-tech courses, especially for the purpose of developing the skills of professionals,” he said in a statement on Monday (May 16).

Saravanan said HRD Corp and Johns Hopkins University will also work together to develop short-term training programmes to strengthen the marketability of the Malaysian workforce which will support the government's efforts in ensuring employment opportunities for all Malaysians.

“In line with HRD Corp’s intention to obtain approval through short-term training, it will work to ensure that the training offered by registered training providers is also recognised by Johns Hopkins University.

“Additionally, I have recommended HRD Corp to use the joint venture opportunity with Johns Hopkins University to expand the acceptance of HRD Corp’s micro-credential initiative internationally, given that HRD Corp has introduced a micro-credential framework recently,” he said.

In the meantime, Saravanan said he has instructed HRD Corp to work with the National Institute of Public Administration (INTAN) to ensure senior government officials can undergo training programmes in the field of AI.

“This programme will provide exposure, as well as equip government officials with the understanding and skills needed in strengthening the leadership,” he said.

https://www.theedgemarkets.com/artic...ins-university

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Malaysia secures over RM500m new investment from Ferrotec, says Azmin
Niam Seet Wei/Bernama May 17, 2022 18:27 pm +08

SAN FRANCISCO (May 17): Ferrotec (USA) Corporation has committed to investing more than RM500 million in new investment in Malaysia to set up its first manufacturing facility in Southeast Asia.

Spanning 8.13 hectares that will include a 800,000 sq ft manufacturing plant in the Kulim Hi-Tech Park, the facility’s construction is expected to begin in the next few weeks.

Senior Minister and International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said the global supplier of materials, components and precision systems and a worldwide leader in quartz material fabrication for the semiconductor industry also committed to generating between 250 and 500 high-skilled jobs for Malaysians.

“They are also committed to assisting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia in building the supply chain and ecosystem in the semiconductor industry.

"This is a very positive development where the company not only wants to bring investment into Malaysia, but wants to see Malaysia continue to thrive in new technologies by involving local companies, especially SMEs," he told Bernama and TV3 after holding a meeting with Ferrotec chief executive officer Eiji Miyanaga here on Monday (Tuesday, May 17 in Malaysia).

Azmin also suggested to Ferrotec to train Malaysian workers, especially Ferrotec based in the US or Japan, to coach Malaysian students or professionals residing in the two countries.

Apart from Ferrotec, Azmin also met with US leading solar tracker company Nextracker Inc chief operating officer and co-founder Marco Miller.

Azmin said Nextracker would strive to enhance products from Malaysia to penetrate not only the US market, but also globally.

Speaking to Bernama after meeting Azmin, Miyanaga said the company had nearly 40 factories globally, and the facility in Malaysia will be its first large platform manufacturing site outside of Japan, China and the US.

“We choose Malaysia because Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, has become a focal point of the supply chain for the industry.

“We feel compelled to invest in Southeast Asia,” he said.

On employment, he said Ferrotec plans to employ between 250 and 500 local talent over the next three years, and its goal is to let the facility run and operated by locals.

“We want to invest in people, and we understand that it (the process) is going to take some time. Therefore, in the initial stage, we will bring in expats for a very short period of time to transfer the technology and train the locals,” he said.

Meanwhile, Nextracker’s Miller said the company is currently doing US$100 million (about RM439.03 million) worth of business with two Malaysian companies, and is planning to expand the business in the coming years and make Malaysia a key manufacturing partner.

“We choose Malaysia for its geographical location and dedicated highly-skilled workforce which manufactures our high-tech products,” he said.

He said Nextracker is expected to see its Malaysian partners double the workforce from the current 400 employees in the near future to cater to its growing business.

https://www.theedgemarkets.com/artic...tec-says-azmin

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Avanade launches first digital innovation studio in Malaysia
By NST Business - May 18, 2022 @ 8:57am

KUALA LUMPUR: US-based Avanade has announced plans to launch its first digital innovation studio in Malaysia.

Situated in Avanade's expanded office space in Tun Razak Exchange, the studio will be home to a multi-disciplinary team of designers, developers, engineers, and product managers, dedicated to helping clients reimagine experiences and create new products and services through a design-led, user-centric approach, the company said in a statement.

The new digital innovation studio combines Avanade's deep engineering and technology experience with the agility and creativity of a digital agency to deliver enterprise-scale projects for businesses in Malaysia's key industries such as energy, oil and gas, telecommunications, and financial services.

To help companies get started, the studio will create physical and digital spaces where companies can find inspiration, co-create new ideas, and test the latest technologies from proof-of-concept and prototype to market launch and scale.

For example, the studio partnered with a multinational retailer to rethink the future retail experience – one that uses artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things to create a personalised experience, from room ambience and curated shelves to preferred payment methods, for every customer.


Avanade managing director (Southeast Asia) Bhavya Kapoor described Malaysia as a strategic market with the investment underscoring its commitment to develop local talent and support its digital economy aspirations.

"The nation's MyDigital initiative will unleash new growth opportunities for agile and innovative organisations that are enough to seize them," said Bhavya.

"Our digital innovation studio will work side-by-side with our clients in Malaysia to continuously assess the dynamic economic landscape and co-create tailored solutions that support new business models and enhance experiences," he said.

Meanwhile, Avanade regional innovation and studio lead (Southeast Asia) Girish Khanna said having an in-depth understanding of end-user perspectives, collaborating across disciplines and co-creating with clients are key aspects of Avanade's human-centred approach.

"It allows our digital innovation studio to rapidly develop bespoke solutions that transform our clients' operations and business models by putting people at the centre of everything they do," added Girish.

Avanade's digital innovation studio in Malaysia joins the growing network of 19 studios located in major metropolitan hubs in Singapore, Australia, Japan, Brazil, United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and Poland.

Avanade is a leading provider of innovative digital, cloud, and advisory services, industry solutions, and design-led experiences across the Microsoft ecosystem.

​Avanade is majority-owned by Accenture, Avanade was founded in 2000 by Accenture LLP and Microsoft Corporation.

https://www.nst.com.my/business/2022...tudio-malaysia

Tun Razak Exchange