KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 5): KOA Corporation, a major manufacturer of resistors and electric components since 1940, is committed to investing in Malaysia within a period of two years.
Senior Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said the Japanese group, one of world’s largest electrical and electronics companies, is also expected to continue investing beyond 2024 in a new factory that will adopt automation in its manufacturing process, ramping up its production capacity to up to 10 billion pieces per month.
“This latest investment will definitely catapult further transfer of technology and knowledge, as well as develop local supply chain and provide opportunities for local talents to upskill,” said Mohamed Azmin on his Twitter account, in conjunction with his trade and investment mission to Japan.
On his trade mission, he met with KOA Corporation board director and managing director Akira Nonomura, as well as board director Katsuhiko Momose.
Mohamed Azmin said KOA Denko is currently producing thick film chip resistors, which accounts for 50% of total sales of the company. The company currently employs almost 800 workers, of whom 70% are Malaysians.
KOA Denko’s facility in Melaka produces 4.3 billion pieces of thick film chip resistors, with a growth rate that is expected to expand at 18% per year.
“I was apprised that in the next four years, the production capacity will increase to 8.2 billion pieces per month.
“Demand for KOA’s product is expected to increase, especially from the automotive sector, as well as other applications, as the company has decided to build the largest production plant in the world, in Melaka,” he said.
Mohamed Azmin said Malaysia is recognised as one of the investment hubs in the global semiconductor industry, particularly in the areas of assembly and test, as well as equipment manufacturing.
“Underpinned by its five decades of manufacturing excellence which has paved the way for sustainable industry development, we are committed to further strengthening its industrial cluster.
“I assured both Nonomura and Momose that KOA Corporation has made the right move to expand its business growth in Malaysia, and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) stands ready to facilitate their operations in the region,” he added.
