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September 25, 2010 15:31 PM
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsbusiness.php?id=530274


KULIM, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- A joint venture involving a local company and its German partner will make an initial investment of RM214 million in the wafer fabrication industry at the Kulim Hi-Tech Park (KHTP).

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said the joint venture company, Lfoundry Malaysia Sdn Bhd, was established by Lfoundry GmbH and QT HighTech Malaysia Sdn Bhd.

It had set a target to set up five fabrication clusters in KHTP in the next 10 years which was expected to generate gross income of US$1.3 bilion for the country, he said.

The investment would create 6,500 job opportunities for the people in the Northern Corridor Economic Region, he told reporters after witnessing the signing of two memoranda of understanding (MoU) between Lfoundry Malaysia and QT Hightech and the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) here yesterday.

"The two MoU are the first Entry Point Project under the electrical and electronics cluster implemented under the Economic Transformation Programme spearheaded by the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu)," he said.

At the ceremony, NCIA was represented by Chief Executive Officer Datuk Redza Rafiq while Lfoundry Malaysia Chief Executive Officer Dr Hans Dudenhausen and QT Hightech Chief Executive Officer Charlie Yoon signed for their respective companies.

Present was KHTP Chairman Datuk Amirudin Hamzah who is also Kedah Executive Council Member.

Nor Mohamed said the RM214 million investment was for the setting up of a Pilot Line whose construction would begin as soon as a formal agreement had been finalised.

The fabrication clusters were expected to attract over 50 integrated circuit (IC) design companies which could generate US$1 billion income for the country and create 2,000 job opportunities, he added.

At the function, a HAZMAT (Harzardous Material) vehicle worth RM4.2 million was handed over to the KHTP Fire and Rescue Department while Kulim Hospital received a RM3.8 million Mass Decontamination and Emergency Response System (MDERS).

Government allocations for the two facilities totalling RM8 million were channeled through NCIA.

-- BERNAMA