Media statement by Lim Guan Eng in Komtar, George Town on Thursday, 15^th March 2012: 

Hopes Phison's decision to set up engineering centre in Penang will attract scientific & engineering talents  

Phison's Chairman and CEO, KS Pua today announced that Phison is setting up its engineering development and design centre in Penang. The centre will be engaged in the development and design of chip, system design as well as marketing. An initial investment of US$1 - 3 million will be mainly on transferring talent and design technologies.

I thank Phison for selecting Penang as its first location outside Taiwan and hopes that Phison's investment in an engineering development and design centre in Penang will help to expedite not only technology transfer but also talent transfer to Penang. This strategic investment will further enhance Penang's move towards higher value added activities and higher paying jobs for the people.

I also assure that the State Government, through investPenang will facilitate Phison's investment in Penang and is confident that Phison's venture in Penang will be a success. Penang is proud of its track record of its investors continuing to expand and reinvest as part of their commitment to stay put and grow roots permanently in Penang.

For that reason, Penang has for the first time in history became No. 1 investment location in Malaysia not just once in 2010 but also No. 1 again in 2011. Phison follows a distinguished line of top companies who have invested profitably in Penang. The Penang state government hopes that the return of Malaysian-born Pua marks a turning point in our efforts to reverse the brain drain by attracting back not only Malaysians but also other new talents who can drive a new culture of innovation, invention and entrepreneurship.

Penang is proud to be able to partner Pua and Phison for research and development. I have made several visits to Taiwan and to Phison's office and am pleased that it has borne fruits. We hope to see more high-tech investments from Taiwan.

Phison's investment in Penang involves a tripartite partnership with Phison doing the design, Silterra doing the wafer fabrication and Index Diversified being responsible for sales and distribution. This project is supported by MIDA as one of key focuses under the Economic Transformation Programme.

Phison, established in Taiwan in November 2000, is a NAND flash application solution provider that also designs controller IC (integrated circuit) and system integration. It is a US$1Billion company that currently employs 500 employees, of which 300 are engineers. Of the 300 engineers, 50 are Malaysians. Penang hopes Phison's decision to set up engineering centre in Penang will attract scientific & engineering talents that will not only lead to technology and talent transfer to Penang but also propels economic convergence of manufacturing & services sector.

*Lim Guan Eng, Penang Chief Minister