Samsung will make Malaysia its largest operations
centre outside South Korea by 2015, said Samsung SDI chief executive
officer and president Park Sang Jin.
The industrial ecosystem in Malaysia supported by political
stability, local workforce and an economy focused on value-added
activities have helped to maintain the company's operational costs
in the country, he said.
Park met with International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk
Seri Mustapa Mohamed at his office yesterday.
The meeting formed part of the regular engagements the Malaysian
government has with foreign investors in the country.
The South Korean giant in digital media and digital convergence
technologies has been in Malaysia since 1979, starting off with an
office providing sales and engineering support.
To date, the company has invested US$1.6 billion (RM3.24 billion)
under 15 entities, five of which are in the manufacturing sector and
another 10 in the services sector.
With annual sales amounting US$6 billion (RM18.4 billion), the
group has contributed 1.7 per cent of the gross domestic product in
2010.
Its investment in Malaysia has benefited 400 domestic companies
in their vendor support services.
Apart from providing employment opportunities to 7,500 people, it
has also been instrumental in attracting 35 other South Korean
companies to park their investments in Malaysia.
Mustapa was also pleased with Samsung as a technology leader to
be reckoned with, considering the company's constant update of its
products.
The most well-received products of Samsung are those which are
linked to those environmentally-friendly.
For instance, it also represents the largest lithium-ion battery
producer in the world, commanding a 30 per cent market share in
Malaysia.
Samsung SDI Energy Sdn Bhd in Senawang, Negri Sembilan, has
already begun producing these batteries for PC tablets, mobile
phones and power tools within the company's current capacity with 22
million units.
The figures are poised to increase to 32 million units by the end
of this year and will increase further to 400 million units when it
runs at a full- capacity in 2014.
Apart from its manufacturing operations, the company has also set
up a training centre for its workers as well as its supporting
industries.
It also plans to set up an R&D centre for the inorganic industry
in 2014, and will house 50 local engineers with masters and PhD
qualifications.
This centre will further support local Samsung's operations.
Meanwhile, Samsung has also offered its cooperation with local
universities and institutions of higher learning. Where relevant
courses are not available in the local institutes, the company has
offered to sponsor students heading for higher studies in South
Korea.
