Choi (right) and Ong exchange the signed document, witnessed by Awang Tengah (standing behind, centre).
KUCHING (Aug 8): OCI Tokuyama Semiconductor Materials Sdn Bhd (OTSM) and Invest Sarawak have signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) today to boost Sarawak’s ambition of becoming a leading regional technology hub.
The partnership seeks to develop supply chains, forge strategic collaborations, and build industrial ecosystems to support OTSM’s upcoming high-purity semiconductor-grade polysilicon plant.
OTSM chief executive officer Steve Choi said the collaboration would create opportunities for Sarawak businesses and talent while enabling local suppliers to participate in the global semiconductor value chain.
“This will strengthen Sarawak’s position as a competitive hub in the global semiconductor industry and drive long-term economic prosperity,” he said in a statement.
He added that the initiative was expected to attract significant high-value investments and spur the growth of advanced manufacturing.
The MoA was signed by Choi and Invest Sarawak chief executive officer Timothy Ong, witnessed by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan at the World Expo in Osaka.
Last month, OTSM – a 50:50 joint venture between OCI TerraSus and Japan’s Tokuyama Corporation – broke ground on its RM2 billion semiconductor-grade polysilicon plant at Samalaju Industrial Park, Bintulu.
Occupying 13.7 hectares, the facility is scheduled to begin operations in 2029, with an annual production capacity of 8,000 metric tonnes, supplying major technology markets in Korea, Japan, and Taiwan.
This marks OCI’s third major investment in Sarawak, following its 2017 acquisition of Tokuyama Malaysia’s solar-grade polysilicon plant, now operating as OCI TerraSus, which produces 35,000 metric tonnes annually.
The second investment is a joint venture with Kumho P&B Chemicals to produce epichlorohydrin – a chemical used in epoxy and rubber production – slated to be commenced by year-end.
