Latest news with #Mida
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Malaysia secures RM4.7bil in investment leads from Japan at Osaka Expo
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has secured RM4.68 billion in potential investment leads from Japan through a recent mission tied to Expo 2025 Osaka, according to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida). The leads, secured through engagements in Kyoto, Kobe, Osaka and Tokyo, make up nearly 57 per cent of the RM7.39 billion in total potential investments linked to Malaysia's presence at the expo so far. "This achievement reflects the strength of Malaysia's investment proposition and the strategic trust placed in us by Japanese partners," Mida chief executive officer Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid said in a statement. He said Mida would continue to facilitate high-quality investments aligned with national priorities in clean energy, innovation and sustainability. The investment promotion effort included one-on-one meetings with Japanese companies and a seminar in Osaka highlighting opportunities in green and high-value sectors. Investment, Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Liew Chin Tong, who officiated the Malaysia Pavilion, said the Expo is a platform to demonstrate the country's positioning as a "future-ready, innovation-driven and sustainability-conscious partner." A key outcome so far is the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Sarawak Energy Bhd and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation to advance clean energy collaboration. The Malaysia pavilion, expected to host over 150 business engagements during the six-month expo, is part of the government's broader strategy to generate RM13 billion in investment and trade outcomes.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
YCH Group makes RM500m logistics investment
KLANG: Singapore's YCH Group has broken ground on its RM500 million Supply Chain City Malaysia (SCC MY) in Bandar Bukit Raja, Selangor – its largest investment in Malaysia to date. Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said the RM500 million logistics investment by Singapore's YCH Group is a move to strengthen the country's role as a key manufacturing and services hub in Asean. 'As the lifeblood of global commerce, good logistics is key to ensuring the smooth and cost-efficient movement of goods and services. As such, we are pleased to welcome YCH Group's RM500-million investment in this sector in Malaysia,' he said in a statement. Tengku Zafrul urged the group to be more inclusive by enabling SME exporters to also access the global market. 'When trade flows seamlessly, investors see greater opportunities, fuelling further growth and innovation. This is what will support our New Industrial Master Plan's goals to increase our competitiveness and position Malaysia a key manufacturing and services hub for Asean and beyond,' he added. According to the group, this project represents their long-term commitment to Malaysia's regional supply chain development and a significant step in realising the country's vision as a leading logistics and trade hub in Asean. SCC MY is poised to serve as a key enabler of regional connectivity, supporting smoother trade flows and future-ready logistics infrastructure, it added. Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) CEO Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid said as the first recipient of Mida's Smart Logistics Complex incentive, YCH Group sets a powerful precedent for Malaysia's integrated smart logistics future. 'This achievement reflects our commitment to attracting high-impact investments and strengthening Malaysia's supply chain ecosystem through innovation and automation. 'The SLC incentive aligns perfectly with the Deklarasi Kuala Lumpur: Asean 2045, supporting our vision of a digitally advanced, economically resilient Asean region.' YCH Group executive chairman Dr Robert Yap said Supply Chain City Malaysia is a major step forward in setting new standards of logistics excellence, supporting Malaysia's growth as a world-class supply chain leader. 'Our investment in FUSIONARIS and advanced technologies reflect our commitment to regional connectivity, efficient operations, and sustainable practices. We are also dedicated to training local talent, empowering them with essential skills to support Malaysia's journey as a preferred destination for global businesses.' The Supply Chain and Logistics Academy, an industry-level development academy, will be hosted at SCC MY. It offers training programmes to equip local talent with the skills needed to thrive in tomorrow's logistics landscape, ultimately enabling Malaysia's workforce to remain competitive on the global stage. Sime Darby Property Group managing director & CEO Datuk Seri Azmir Merican said welcoming a global logistics leader like YCH Group to Bandar Bukit Raja reflects the confidence placed in Malaysia's industrial developments as well as the ability to deliver integrated, future-ready townships. 'As Malaysia continues to carry out its role as chair of Asean in 2025, this project is a timely example of cross-border collaboration, aligning with the region's shared focus on economic integration, sustainable and inclusive growth, while also strengthening trade linkages, supporting innovation, and contributing meaningfully to broader regional priorities.' Bandar Bukit Raja, a 5,333-acre integrated township developed by Sime Darby Property Bhd, is known for its sustainable design and thriving industrial ecosystem. With close to 60% of its landbank allocated for industrial use, BBR is home to Malaysia's first GreenRE Platinum-rated managed industrial park.
Malay Mail
21-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Malaysia to unveil new incentives to boost semiconductor growth, says Tengku Zafrul
SINGAPORE, May 21 — The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) is creating targeted incentives aimed at further boosting the growth of the local semiconductor industry, said its Minister, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz. He said the announcement would be made in July to mark the first anniversary of the launch of the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS). 'I can't reveal too much about what we will be announcing, but what I can say is that we are going to continue supporting this industry. 'We've been engaging with the industry to understand its needs and priorities. Of course, we know that what it wants is more fiscal support to strengthen the ecosystem, but also the right policy framework,' he said in his keynote address at the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) supply chain event held here. The event took place as part of the ongoing SEMICON Southeast Asia (SEA) 2025, the region's premier platform for the global electronics and semiconductor industry. Tengku Zafrul added that MITI would continue working closely with players in the semiconductor sector as the ministry navigates changes within the industry amid geopolitical uncertainty. He emphasised that Malaysia would continue to advocate global collaboration and dialogue to ensure the country remains relevant in the global supply chain. 'We recognise the sovereign right of nations to develop their domestic industries, but we must also stress the importance of global collaboration,' he said. The minister noted that Malaysia has been part of the semiconductor industry since the 1970s and has grown steadily, built strong partnerships, and attracted some of the world's most renowned companies. He said that last year, Malaysia's semiconductor sector contributed about US$130 billion (RM575 billion) to national electronics exports and now accounts for 13 per cent of global back-end semiconductor output. Meanwhile, at a luncheon with industry leaders, Tengku Zafrul said Malaysia is actively diversifying its markets and has ratified 17 free trade agreements (FTAs) to date. 'The Malaysia-South Korea FTA will be finalised this October. We have resumed FTA negotiations with the EU. Negotiations for FTA upgrades with China and India are also ongoing at the ASEAN level, where Malaysia is leading the agenda this year as chair," he said. He added that Malaysia is also advancing negotiations on the Digital Economic Framework Agreement (DEFA) this year. Earlier, Tengku Zafrul launched the Malaysia Pavilion at SEMICON SEA 2025. The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) brought over nine Malaysian companies to participate in the event, offering a wide range of products and services tailored to the microelectronics and semiconductor value chain. More than 90 Malaysian companies are participating in this year's SEMICON SEA. — Bernama
The Sun
11-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Netherlands' Oryx Stainless opens processing facility in Johor
PETALING JAYA: Oryx Stainless Group, one of the world's leading suppliers of recycled stainless steel raw materials headquartered in the Netherlands, has opened a processing facility in Johor, showcasing the company's commitment to combining environmental stewardship with industrial excellence. Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said Johor is proud that it is now home to a facility that demonstrates how climate action, industrial excellence and economic development can go hand in hand. 'With Oryx Stainless, we are welcoming not only an international leader in green industry but a true partner in our journey towards sustainable prosperity,' he added. Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) CEO Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid said: 'Malaysia, under the Madani government, has implemented specific policies to advance sustainable industrial development. Oryx Stainless Group's new Johor facility demonstrates how international expertise can transform our manufacturing landscape. 'As a respected name in stainless steel recycling, Oryx Stainless strengthens both Johor's industrial capabilities and Malaysia's position in the global circular economy. Mida actively supports investments that combine innovation with measurable environmental impact, particularly those creating high-skill employment opportunities for Malaysians' Oryx Stainless Holding CEO Tobias Kammer said Malaysia is key to the company's strategy of bringing high-quality, low carbon footprint stainless steel raw materials closer to the production centres of Asia. 'Our investment in Johor is not only a business decision – it is a commitment to long-term collaboration, green growth and shared prosperity. We are proud to contribute to Malaysia's vision of becoming a global leader in sustainable industrial transformation,' he added. The facility arrives at a crucial time for Malaysia's environmental goals, supporting the national target of 45% carbon intensity reduction per gross domestic product by 2030 and helping attract RM300 billion in green investments. With each tonne of recycled material saving up to 8.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide, the plant's annual impact approaches 1 million tonnes in emissions reduction. 'Only in very few industries is the recycling rate as high as in stainless steel,' Oryx Stainless Group co-founder and chairman of the supervisory board Michael Pawlowski noted 'New stainless steel – with no loss in quality – can be produced from up to 90% of the materials processed on this site. The prerequisite is smart recycling, and Oryx Stainless has practised it since 1990,' he added. Oryx Stainless specialises in creating precise blends of recycled raw materials for various stainless steels, addressing the need for over 150 different alloys. Its process involves analysing, storing, and producing high-quality recycled materials to meet specific metallurgical compositions. This ensures consistent quality and reduces the use of high carbon footprint primary raw materials such as ferronickel, ferrochrome and ferromolybdenum. Leveraging its smart logistics and a digitised production setup, Oryx also ensures that the entire blending process is as climate-neutral as possible. Local talent development stands central to the facility's mission. Malaysian employees have already completed advanced training in Thailand, learning to operate specialised equipment including Malaysia's first special Sennebogen material handlers. The workforce, drawn almost entirely from local communities, is set to double by mid-2026. Partnerships with Malaysian universities create pathways for engineering students into the growing green technology sector. As Phase 1 begins, the facility will process 150,000 tonnes of stainless steel annually, marking a significant step forward in regional resource conservation and sustainable manufacturing.
Business Times
21-04-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Johor-Singapore SEZ snares lion's share of approved investments: Mida
[SINGAPORE] Some four-fifths of the over 700 projects approved by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) in Johor last year were located in the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), underscoring its attractiveness, the agency's chief executive told The Business Times. Of these 560 approved investment schemes, more than 50 are in high-value and high-growth sectors, such as the medical and semiconductor industries, noted Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid. 'This shows the attraction of the special economic zone to host high-value, high-growth sectors,' he said. 'What we want is to move up the value chain within existing industry clusters and create new clusters for the whole zone.' Facilitation is as important as the approvals, added Shamsul, pointing out that the implementation rate of projects within the zone in 2023 was more than 80 per cent. He made these remarks at a JS-SEZ joint business and investment forum that was held on Monday (Apr 21) in Johor Bahru. This is the first forum of its kind since the agreement to set up this cross-border special economic zone between neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia, was inked in January. Co-organised by Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry and Malaysia's Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, the forum saw some 1,000 business leaders in attendance. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am Asean Business Business insights centering on South-east Asia's fast-growing economies. Sign Up Sign Up The Mida chief executive was speaking at the first of three panel discussions held titled JS-SEZ: Asean's next investment powerhouse. Moderated by Maybank Investment Bank Berhad's group chief economist Suhaimi Ilias, the session also featured Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) managing director Jermaine Loy; Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers vice-president Jacob Lee; and Singapore Business Federation (SBF) chief executive Kok Ping Soon. EDB's Loy, who officially took over as managing director on Mar 1, described the zone as a 'win-win-win-win' when asked to deliver an elevator pitch to businesses and investors. 'It's a win for Malaysia in terms of new economic growth here in Johor; it's a win for Singapore, enhancing our economic competitiveness; it's a win for businesses looking at the growth opportunities, seamless and efficient cross-border operations and integrated regional strategy; it's also a win for South-east Asia in terms of fostering economic integration and cooperation.' Wooing talent On the topic of talent, SBF's Kok noted that, with Johor also running short on labour, the question now boils down not just to availability of talent, but also to their skill acquisition. The crux lies in how Johor can be transformed into a 'talent magnet' attracting workers from other parts of Malaysia, said the federation's chief executive. He added: 'But, no matter what… you will still need to bring in foreign talent, and the question is whether the JS-SEZ can also be a home for foreigners.' Infrastructure development Talent aside, enhanced infrastructure is another key to the zone's success, with panellists noting strong investor interest in the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link that is targeted to be operational by end-2026. Mida's Shamsul highlighted the importance of providing renewable energy supply, noting that roughly 100 companies are currently eyeing opportunities in the space and that Malaysia is looking at a green industrial park initiative that could provide renewable energy for companies. 'We're talking about high-growth, high-value sectors, but if you're not able to provide renewable energy, it will be a bottleneck for the JS-SEZ (when it comes to enticing) all these companies looking at achieving net-zero ambitions.'
