JAPAN'S Ibiden Co Ltd, the world's biggest printed circuit board (PCB) maker, will invest at least RM1 billion to set up its third manufacturing plant in Penang.The plant, which will make and develop multi-layer PCBs, is scheduled to operate by the third quarter of next year.Construction of the 18.5ha facility will begin as early as next month.About RM800 million will be spent over the next two years, mainly on construction of the plant and buying equipment from across the globe.
It is expected to create jobs for 900 Malaysians next year.The plant will be used to manufacture high-performance and high-density printed wiring boards, which are widely used in mobile phones."Worldwide demand for mobile phones is expected to maintain its constant growth. The replacement demand is also anticipated to increase," Ibiden printed wiring board unit manager and executive officer Sotaro Ito said in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.Depending on future demand, the company may build another plant in Penang in 2011, Ito said.Its existing two plants are located in the Seberang Jaya and Prai industrial areas.Ibiden's investment is a big boost for Malaysia's foreign direct investment (FDI). Japanese investments in the manufacturing sector have been increasing significantly since 2003.The Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (Mida) is optimistic that FDI from Japan will surpass its record last year when the country brought in RM6.52 billion, up 48 per cent from RM4.4 billion in 2006."If we can close the deals we are working on, I am confident that we can easily match or surpass last year's number," Mida director-general Datuk R. Karunakaran said.Between January and March this year, 13 projects from Japan were approved in various industries, with capital investment of RM270 million, excluding investment by Ibiden.International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will be leading a trade and investment mission to Japan in July.Seminars and roundtable meetings will be organised in Osaka, Yokohama and Tokyo.Mida will also send technical teams and specific product missions to attract Japanese investment in areas such as food ingredients; functional and halal food; petrochemical and polymers; specialised machinery for electrical, electronics and metal working industries; flat panel display; and semiconductors and electronic components. -www.btimes.com.my
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