KUALA LUMPUR (July 10): Belgium-based semiconductor solutions provider Melexis NV has opened its largest wafer testing site worldwide in Sama Jaya High Tech Park in Kuching, Sarawak, as part of its commitment to meet the increasing demand for semiconductors and strengthen its presence in the Asia-Pacific region.
The new facility in the capital of Sarawak, which is located next to one of its key suppliers X-FAB’s wafer foundry, will streamline its logistics and help to reduce its ecological footprint. The company hosts 90 semiconductor wafer test equipment used to test integrated circuits.
“Kuching boasts a diverse, multilingual, entrepreneurial and skilled workforce, further enhancing recruitment potential,” Melexis said in a joint statement with the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) and Sarawak's Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment (Mintred).
“This expansion will allow Melexis to serve the steadily increasing global demand for semiconductor solutions and signals our continued commitment towards our Asian customers,” Melexis chairwoman Françoise Chombar said.
The new four-storey building, designed by award-winning Belgian architect Sebastian Mortelmans and Sarawakian architect Design Network Architect (DNA), covers a ground surface of 4,500 sq m, with a modern design that references Sarawak’s longhouse architecture.
Melexis chief executive officer Marc Biron said that the investment, which amounts to €70 million (approximately RM356.32 million), underscores the ambition of Melexis and will ensure future growth.
Apart from the facility, Melexis is also collaborating with universities and Sarawak Microelectronics Design, a government agency focused on research and development that officially began in 2023 through the Local Pioneer Talent Programme.
Meanwhile, Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said the opening of Melexis’ largest global wafer testing facility in Sarawak reflects Malaysia’s strong execution of investment projects and further strengthens the country's position in the global semiconductor supply chain.
“As Melexis helps drive Malaysia’s technological advancement, it will also create significant socio-economic spillover that will benefit the surrounding businesses and communities, contributing to more inclusive and broad-based growth outlined in the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030),” he said.
Mintred, on the other hand, commended Melexis' move to open its facility in Kuching, especially given the state's business-friendly environment.
"Sarawak government has always been very supportive of investors both foreign and domestic. It is among the most preferred destinations for investment in Malaysia. Sarawak possesses many comparative advantages for businesses to grow and prosper such as strategic location, availability of green energy, talented workforce, and suitable land for industrial activities," it said.
Source: TheEdge - 11 Jul 2024
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