KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan received a courtesy visit from managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) of Taiyo Yuden here on Friday (Feb 4).
The outgoing MD and CEO of Taiyo Yuden, Yoshio Akimoto was accompanied by the incoming MD and CEO Masashi Toyama at Awang Tengah’s office.
Akimoto will be leaving Sarawak to assume the post of MD at Taiyo Yuden (Changzhou), China.
In a statement, Awang Tengah who is also Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment thanked Akimoto for his close cooperation and support, especially pertaining to Taiyo Yuden’s ambitious expansion plan in Sama Jaya Free Industrial Zone during his tenure.
Awang Tengah also thanked Taiyo Yuden for their strong confidence in the state leadership.
At the same time, he revealed that Taiyo Yuden planned to invest a total of RM4.1 billion on a new 70-acre of land in Sama Jaya that the state government had allocated.
Awang Tengah said he had assured Taiyo Yuden that the government would provide all the necessary assistance to ensure the expansion plan was completed as scheduled.
“Construction works for phase 1 have begun last year and is expected to complete by 2023.
“The company is expected to recruit an additional 2,000 employees in 2023 for phase 1 operation. Currently, the company employs 5,300 workers where 98 per cent are locals,” said Awang Tengah, who is also Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development.
For the record, Taiyo Yuden has been operating in Sama Jaya since 1996.
Also present during the courtesy visit were Assistant Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment Datuk Malcolm Mussen Lamoh, Acting Permanent Secretary of the ministry Dzulkornain Masron and Special Function Officer Datu Liaw Soon Eng.
