EBARA PRECISION MACHINERY MALAYSIA SDN BHD GRAND OPENING
SPEECH BY YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW
THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG
EBARA PRECISION MACHINERY MALAYSIA
SDN BHD GRAND OPENING
13TH JUNE 2023| BATU KAWAN, PENANG
YBhg. Datuk Wira Arham Abdul Rahman
Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA)
YBhg. Dato’ Loo Lee Lian
Chief Executive Officer of InvestPenang
YBrs. Mr. Muhammad Ghaddaffi bin Sardar
Director of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) Penang
YBrs. Zahida Binti Mohd Idriss
Senior Assistant Manager of the Penang Development Corporation (PDC)
Mr. Tetsuji Togawa
President of Precision Machinery Company, Ebara Corporation
Mr. Koki Ochiai
Management Strategy Control Division Executive of Precision Machinery Company, Ebara Corporation
Mr. Takashi Sugiyama
Managing Director of Ebara Precision Machinery Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.
Distinguished guests,
Members of the press,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning.
I am deeply honoured to be here this morning for the grand opening of Ebara Precision Machinery Malaysia's new manufacturing plant in Penang, and I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to the Company and all those involved for achieving this significant milestone.
Ebara Precision Machinery, a subsidiary of Japan-based Ebara Corporation under the precision machinery group, has strategically chosen Batu Kawan, Penang as its location for the new manufacturing plant with an investment value of RM30.4 million. Situated at a 1.5 storey detached factory, the Company will be offering value-added products and quality services to meet the growing market demand on various precision needs, mainly in the semiconductor, LED and electronic industries. The new plant will also facilitate sales and marketing, assembly, servicing, and support of Ebara’s dry vacuum pumps and other related equipment activities.
As a leader in vacuum and planarization technologies, the Company’s presence will undoubtedly bring numerous benefits to our community. It includes the creation of 100 new jobs opportunities, as well as the promotion of collaboration and knowledge sharing, all of which will undoubtedly contribute to the state’s economic growth and enhance our global competitiveness and technological advancements.
On this note, Penang is indeed proud to be the chosen location for Ebara Precision Machinery, which also signifies the confidence that our partners from Japan have placed in Penang. Often lauded for its well-developed industrial ecosystem, Penang has the capacities and capabilities to support the needs of industrial players in next-generation technologies and growth strategies. I am optimistic that Ebara Precision Machinery will reap a myriad of benefits from its operation in Penang, the Silicon Valley of the East.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Driven by its position as the country’s leading Electronics & Electrical (E&E) hub and the economic powerhouse of the nation, Penang topped the nation's list in 2021 with export value of RM354 billion recorded. 74% of the said amount is contributed by the E&E sector, which represented nearly 60% of the country’s E&E total. The external trade momentum has persisted into 2022 with a 27% year-on-year spike on the export value, reaching an all-time high of RM452 billion, which accounted for 29% of the country's total.
In terms of investment performance, the state has garnered RM13.7 billion in total approved manufacturing investments in 2022, with foreign direct investments (FDI) contributing 71% of the total investment inflows. In the first quarter of 2023, Penang emerged as the second-highest contributor to the country’s approved manufacturing investments. The RM3.3 billion recorded in January to March 2023 comprises 35 manufacturing projects, which is estimated to create 2,217 new job opportunities in the state.
The state’s commendable performance that continues to punch above our weights is testament to our competitive edges, offering a competent platform for the industry players like Ebara to participate and thrive.
Underpinned by the five decades of industrial excellence, Penang is now home to a pool of precision engineering players, supplying critical products and expertise necessary for manufacturing complex components and equipment used in various industries. Riding on the prolific growth of advanced technologies, I am confident that Penang will be benefitting from the exciting industry outlook. Accordingly, we will continue to broaden and deepen our foundation in advanced manufacturing, while enhancing our workforce and capabilities in new verticals such as additive manufacturing.
In line with the industry growth, Penang is also placing strong emphasis on sustainability. As such, we are most proud that our conducive environment bodes well for the industry players here as we have witnessed many of them making true commitments to environmental stewardship, social inclusivity and ethical governance.
The state is cognisant that embracing sustainable practices and developing solutions that prioritize the well-being of our planet are among the imperatives for a sustainable future. Accordingly, I am glad that the establishment of Ebara Precision Machinery will play a vital role in driving sustainable innovation, advancing green technologies, and promoting environmentally conscious business practices here in Penang.
Having said that, I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) and InvestPenang for their synergistic efforts in engaging investors and facilitating project implementations.
The state, via InvestPenang and other relevant state machineries, is committed in providing unwavering support to the investors, and I look forward to establishing a strong relationship with Ebara Precision Machinery. With that, I once again, convey my heartiest congratulations and best wishes to everyone.
Thank you.