JERLUN: The country has many advantages and unique features to attract foreign investors in the solar industry, says Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, Datuk Mukhriz Tun Mahathir.

In line with the launch of the New Economic Model scheduled for late March this year, there needs to be a new vision to meet the current conditions and climate which are highly challenging, such as the development in the solar industry, he said.

"Right now we are not actively encouraging foreign investments which are more assembly-line based. We want high technology industries full of innovations and capable of giving high returns and value additions to the country," he said.

He was speaking to reporters after a ceremony at Wisma Umno Jerlun here today in which cash assistance was given to 290 fishermen from the Persatuan Nelayan Kawasan Kuala Kedah.

Mukhriz said it would not be impossible to penetrate the solar market as the country already had three international solar based companies which have invested to build factories to produce solar panels, modules and cells.

The companies involved are First Solar and SunPower from the United States and Q-Cells AG from Germany. The factories are located in Kulim Hi-Tech, Melaka and Selangor.

Mukhriz said the setting up of the companies had also provided a good picture to other foreign investors in attracting them to the country's solar industry.
Meanwhile, companies which support the activities of solar companies have also started to attract the attention of foreign investors, he said.

An example is the Japanese company that will be investing in Sabah and Sarawak to process silica for the solar factories in Peninsular Malaysia, he said.

There are also many companies and factories producing semi-conductor chips, and they more or less use the same materials as solar which is wafer silicon and waste materials from semi-conductors are also suited to be used in solar factories, he said.

However, while there are companies that support the solar industry, the country also needs to have sufficient skilled work force to meet the demands of the investors, he added. -- BERNAMA

Source: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/20100211204417/Article/index_html