Julaihi: State still attractive investment destination

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Datuk Julaihi Narawi

KUCHING: The state receives yet another foreign investment (FID) this time from Gintech Energy Corporation (Gintech), a Taiwan-based company at Samajaya Free Industrial Zone, here.

Focusing on research and production of high efficiency and quality silicon crystalline cells and modules, the company will invest a total of RM1 billion over the next three years.

Gintech aims to have the facility operational by second the half of next year, and to complete the ramp-up facility by 2017.

Yesterday, the company led by its executive director Dr Pan Wen Whe paid a courtesy call on Assistant Minister of Industrial Development (Investment and Promotion) Datuk Julaihi Narawi at his office in Wisma Sumber Alam.

“This is the latest investment that we have in the state, and this goes to show that we are
still an attractive destination for investors, and with the coming of Gintech, it will provide employment for the locals,” Julaihi told reporters after the meeting with the delegation.

He said the state government business-friendly approach and a strong government were among the bonus points for the state to continue attracting foreign investors.

He said the total investment from Taiwanese companies in the state had reached RM3.3 billion since 2010, excluding the latest one.

Meanwhile, Pan said the company would also inject paid-up capital of between US$200 million and US$300 million in the next five years.

He also said that 95 per cent of employment opportunities would be given to locals, starting from those with Bachelor degree.

He pointed out that although the presence of Taiwanese staff will be around 30 or 40 per cent of the total number for the start, it would be eventually decrease to between 10 and 20 per cent, to provide employment to the locals, adding that the company would provide 1,600 employment opportunities once fully operational.

He also found out from the company’s staff who had visited the state prior to making the decision to invest here that the people were very friendly with good business environment and a stable government.

Pan also said the company would take 50 Sarawakians for a ‘cultural mixing’ in Taiwan before the plant here started operating.

Meanwhile, the executive summary distributed to the media stated that Gintech which was founded in 2005 has expanded rapidly and now has a production capacity of 1.8GW and 1,800 employees.

It is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange in 2007 and currently has a market capitalisation of US$370 million.

The company is a strong global solar industry player in Taiwan for the past seven years and would like to expand to Malaysia to create a broader and more comprehensive manufacturing offering for its customers.

The proposed photovoltaic (PV) cell and module in Sarawak will ramp up to 1,000MW and 450MW over a three-year period.