KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 28): Taiwanese electronic components maker Ichia Technologies Inc has opened its second manufacturing facility at Kulim Hi-Tech Park, Kedah.

The facility carries an investment of RM490 million and is expected to create 600 new job opportunities in the state, investment promotion agency Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) said in a statement on Tuesday (Oct 28).

“Amid the ongoing restructuring of global supply chains and the challenges brought by US reciprocal tariffs, our new facility in Kulim will serve as a key driver for the group’s long-term sustainable growth,” said Ichia chairman Huang Chiu-Yung.

The latest facility in Malaysia, spanning more than 55,000 sq m, is the second-largest manufacturing base for Ichia. Listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange, the company recorded revenue of over US$311 million (RM1.3 billion) last year.

Ichia will be manufacturing printed circuit boards, assemblies and components for automotive and telecommunication sectors out of the facility in Kulim.

“The creation of new jobs is crucial for developing local talent and strengthening Malaysia’s role as a strategic, resilient hub” in the global electrical and electronics supply chain, said Mida CEO Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid.

For Invest Kedah, the state's investment promotion agency, Ichia’s investment “will boost our electronics ecosystem, create skilled jobs and open new opportunities for local suppliers in automotive and telecommunications,” said its chief operating officer Noor Ikhsan Abdul Aziz.