InvestKL has successfully attracted 78 MNCs with approved and committed investments of RM11.7 billion, as well as the creation of 11,693 regional high-skilled jobs since 2011.
Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Zainal Amanshah said, “In 2018, InvestKL bucked the global investment trend by attracting 12 innovative global multinationals (MNCs). With approved and committed investments of RM2.3 billion, a total of 1,339 jobs have been created.”
The 12 MNCs are Fortuna 500 companies, Orange (France), MetLife (U.S.), Electrolux (Sweden), EY (UK), Accenture (Ireland), PERSOLKELLY (Japan/ US), China Pacific Construction Group (China); Wood (UK); and hidden champions such as Pickles Auctions (Australia), United Imaging(China), and Bertling (Germany); and Zalora (Germany).
In the seven years from 2011-2018, RM6.63 billion or 57% of the RM11.7 billion investments have been realised. In addition, 7,516 or 64% of the 11,693 high skilled regional jobs are already on the payroll. Of these 7,516 jobs, 80% employed are Malaysians with an average annual income of RM110,124 or US$26,610 based on the exchange rate on 4.13.
Industry 4.0
“InvestKL remains focused on attracting high value, high skilled and innovation-led investments to create quality jobs for Malaysians. Despite a slower global economy and U.S. – China trade tensions, our investment pipeline is resilient as investment decisions are made over a longer period. We are confident of attracting similar investments this year.
“We are focused on attracting MNCs from the U.S., Europe, China, Japan and South Korea. These countries are strong in the six sectors that we are pursuing. These sectors are smart technologies, consumer technologies, e-commerce, medical devices, industrial automation, as well as energy and renewables.” – InvestKL Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Zainal Amanshah.
The Member Spotlight Section is a virtual space for member companies to get to know each other better by understanding each others’ business and how we can work together towards building a community within the Chamber. This month, we feature ITW Meritex S/B under Electronic Component Packaging System (ECPS). ITW Meritex group is part of Illinois Tool Works Inc., a global conglomerate listed in the New York Stock Exchange with USD 15 billion plus annual revenues.
ITW joined AMCHAM about a year ago and has been actively involved since. They are also a member of the Malaysian American Electronics Industry (MAEI) committee, an industry sub-committee of AMCHAM and also the largest committee representing the Electrical and Electronics (E&E) industry in Malaysia since its inception in 1989. MAEI aims to enhance member/government relations, highlight members’ contribution to the Malaysian economy and advocate changes and improvements needed to elevate the competitiveness of Malaysia.
ITW is a diversified manufacturing company that delivers specialized expertise, innovative thinking and value-added products to meet critical customer needs in a variety of industries. They have decentralized businesses in 52 countries that employ approximately 60,000 men and women. ITW ECPS is an industry leader in the design and manufacture of packaging products for use in the storage, handling and shipping of ESD sensitive electronic components mainly serving E&E industry.
ITW Meritex S/B has been established since year 1982 in Malaysia and currently they have 7 plants located in Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan and China respectively under ECPS group. In Malaysia, they have 5 plants (4 plants in Penang Island & 1 plant in Malacca) that supply shipping tube, carrier tape, static shielding and moisture barrier bags, injection molded trays and insert- molded products.
As of to-date, their Malaysia factories has 800 of full-time employees. Over the years, through continuous effort in product innovation and customers collaboration in identifying and defining their needs, ITW ECPS has been able to continuously provide innovative technical services and products to our customers globally.
Following our successful program in KL with the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) in December, 2018, AMCHAM organized a similar briefing on February 25, 2019 for our northern region members to provide opportunity for them to meet with MIDA and learn more about the types of support that the MIDA provides to foreign companies that have already invested in Malaysia. We had approximately 40 members and also representatives of MIDA Penang.The Post-Investment team from MIDA was led by Mr. S. Siva, Executive Director.
AMCHAM regularly invites civil servants from relevant government departments to address our members and provide updates on the latest initiatives that they are working on.
AMCHAM members are welcome to contact MIDA’s Post-Investment Division for assistance in navigating the incentives approval process, as well as a range of other support services such as identifying Malaysian talent pools and registering requests for infrastructure support.
Any questions relating to our government engagements can be addressed to [email protected]
AMCHAM would like to thank Intel Technologies for hosting the briefing.
AMCHAM on Wednesday 20th February hosted a joint roundtable discussion between our members and the Information Technology Industry Council (https://www.itic.org/), a Washington D.C.- based member organisation that advocates to governments around the world on policy areas relating to the development of high-technology sectors.
AMCHAM and ITIC have many shared members and shared policy priorities in Malaysia. We have collaborated with ITIC on several advocacy initiatives relating to the information and communications technology (ICT) industry over the past 18 months, and this roundtable was an excellent opportunity for members of our online working groups to put faces to names and to update one another on the latest status of our engagements with the Malaysian government.
AMCHAM also accompanied ITIC in joint delegations to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) as well as Malaysian Technical Standards Forum Bhd (MTSFB), the body tasked with consulting industry in developing technical codes for high-technology sectors.
In 2000, Marc built the first website for the World Cyber Games tournament in Malaysia with zero knowledge of coding. He challenged himself by taking up the job and religiously studied HTML and web design. The whole journey was tough but super fulfilling, as he recalls. The experience taught him that anything can be accomplished as long as there’s hunger & discipline. Get to know Marc Woo, Managing Director of Google Malaysia as he shares his story with us.
1. How would you describe your management style?
Management needs to be adaptable and situational. When times are cloudy, be decisive and set the path. When times are good, get out of the way and allow leaders to emerge. Micromanage when someone needs it, do not otherwise. I spend a lot of time with my teams to ensure they are getting the right level of coaching and we regularly talk about career and trajectory. To strive for continuous improvements, I regularly ask for constructive feedback from my teams and business partners.
2. Who inspires you the most and why? How have you incorporated that into your daily life?
Robert Kuok – discipline & humility. Lee Kuan Yew – built something great out of nothing. Incorporation requires a tremendous amount of self-awareness. On top of regular feedback I ask for, I like to project myself in the eyes of others and aim to get better in every aspect. And I’m definitely on a mission to build something great: putting Malaysia back on the map.
3. How do you see your organization changing in two years, and how do you see yourself creating/being a part of that change?
The only constant in life is change. Google is constantly living in that constant. In 2 years time, our products and services are likely to evolve. Closer to home though, Google Malaysia will be a significant net contributor to the Malaysian economy: upskilling our workforce and digitizing small businesses (our economy’s driving force). What won’t change are our values and principles.
4. Tell me about an accomplishment or a memorable incident that shaped your career.
Year 2000: I built the first website for the World Cyber Games tournament in Malaysia with no knowledge of coding. I took up the job because I needed the money, so I religiously studied HTML and web design. I remember building the first version using a notepad. It was tough but super fulfilling. The experience taught me that anything can be accomplished as long as there’s hunger & discipline.
5. What would we be surprised to learn about you?
I’m very data-driven. I love crunching and analyzing facts. But I also believe in fengshui.
6. What book are you reading or podcast you most recommend?
The last decent book I read was A Memoir by Robert Kuok.
7. What do you do for fun?
My wife and I live to eat: food hunting is our almost daily thing. I love the idea of golf. I spend half a day during weekends on the courses but am not very good at it. If I get to choose my last meal, it’ll be a 3-Michelin star omakase sushi. And, I’d want to be reincarnated as a PGA Tour professional.
