(From left) En. Cao XiangLai, Director of Zhejiang Sinopont Technology Co Ltd; YAB Menteri Besar Perak Dato' Seri Saarani Mohamad; ⁠YB Loh Sze Yee , Exco Pelacongan, Industri dan Pembangunan Koridor Negeri Perak and ⁠YB Dato Mohd Zaki Mahyudin, Pegawai Kewangan Negeri Perak
(From left) En. Cao XiangLai, Director of Zhejiang Sinopont Technology Co Ltd; YAB Menteri Besar Perak Dato' Seri Saarani Mohamad; ⁠YB Loh Sze Yee , Exco Pelacongan, Industri dan Pembangunan Koridor Negeri Perak and ⁠YB Dato Mohd Zaki Mahyudin, Pegawai Kewangan Negeri Perak

KUALA LUMPUR: Zhejiang Sinopont Technology Co Ltd, a China-based manufacturer of encapsulant film, has established its inaugural manufacturing facility outside China in Ipoh, Perak, through its Malaysian subsidiary, Sinopont Everthriving (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd.

The newly inaugurated manufacturing facility, situated in Tasek Industrial Park, Ipoh, will commence operations immediately. 

It is dedicated to producing solar cell encapsulant film with an initial production capacity of 85 million square metres, sufficient to cater to about 10 gigawatts (GW) of demand, the company said in a statement.

Sinopont's investment in Perak will be executed in phases, with projections to scale up the production capacity to 300 million square metres of encapsulants, covering an estimated demand of 30 GW. 

The collaboration between Perak and Sinopont extends beyond this initial phase, with plans for potential expansion projects and the establishment of a comprehensive solar industry ecosystem in Perak.

Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, Menteri Besar of Perak, lauded Sinopont's decision to invest in the state, emphasizing its endorsement of Perak's business environment and joint commitment to driving economic growth while preserving the environment for future generations.

Perak's appeal to local and foreign investors has been steadily increasing, attributed to its enhanced infrastructure, skilled workforce, and government support. These developments align with the "Pelan Perak Sejahtera 2030" agenda, which prioritises initiatives aimed at attracting investment.

Recognising Perak's strategic importance, InvestPerak will expedite approvals for strategic projects by issuing a 'fast-track letter', ensuring smooth implementation. 

Mohamad Hashim Abdul Ghani, chief executive officer of InvestPerak, reiterated their commitment to working closely with MITI and MIDA to position Perak as Malaysia's preferred investment destination.

Sinopont's investment is expected to generate about 300 employment opportunities for Malaysians once the facility reaches full operational capacity. Moreover, it will bolster the solar panel manufacturing ecosystem in Malaysia, particularly in the Northern Region, fostering further economic growth and development.