“This is a significant milestone for Kulim, Kedah, and Malaysia, showcasing our ability to attract world-class investments,” he said in his opening speech at the Kulim Hi-Tech Park.
“It highlights our commitment to becoming a global leader in high-tech manufacturing.”
Anwar also said there was a need for clear policies, skilled professionals, and strong research and development efforts to support high-tech projects.
He called on universities and training institutions to quickly adapt to the changing technology landscape to support these advancements.
“We need 60,000 highly skilled engineers by 2027. The pace of change is rapid, and we must be ready to support it with the right infrastructure and skilled workforce,” he said.
The new factory, spanning 35 acres with a roofed area of 60,000 sq m, will create 4,000 new jobs, including 1,500 high-value positions.
Infineon has invested 2 billion euros (RM9.8 billion) in the first phase, with an additional 5 billion euros (RM25 billion) planned for future expansion.
Infineon CEO Jochen Hanebeck attributed the investment to the company’s foresight on technological developments in SiC, stressing the importance of wide bandgap semiconductors like SiC and gallium nitride.
SiC chips enhance the efficiency and performance of electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and data centres by operating at higher temperatures and voltages than traditional silicon chips.
Hanebeck said Infineon is the world’s leading supplier of automotive semiconductors and that its role was becoming important in renewable energy and data centres focused on artificial intelligence.
“Currently, data centres account for about 2% of global power consumption, and this is expected to rise to 7% by 2030. Solutions based on silicon, SiC or gallium nitride will be essential,” he said.
Hanebeck also acknowledged significant prepayments from several customers supporting the Kulim expansion, viewing them as a sign of trust and appreciation for the political support.
“Our company has a long, successful history in Malaysia, and we are now writing the next chapter of our success story,” he said.
Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor affirmed the state’s support for high-tech companies like Infineon, noting incentives such as attractive land prices and pioneer status that make Kedah a prime investment destination.
“Infineon’s deeply rooted presence in Kulim is a restatement on the region’s potential as a hub for high-tech industries,” he said.
Infineon began its Malaysian operations in Melaka in 1973 and opened Asia’s first front-end fabrication plant in Kulim in 2006. Currently, Infineon employs more than 16,000 highly skilled workers in Malaysia.