German Exec Sees Potential For Malaysia As AEC's Hi-Tech Hub

By Manik Mehta FRANKFURT, July 21 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has the potential to become the high-technology (high-tech) hub in the ASEAN Economonic Community (AEC) and German companies see the country playing a central role in the region's industrial development as well as in tapping the market of 600 million people. Christian Wachtmeister, head of corporate development at Muehlbauer AG, said given its credentials, Malaysia could rightly project itself as a hi-tech hub. Mühlbauer, headquartered in Roding district (in Germany), is a global supplier of production equipment for the smart label and smart card industry, enabling clients to manufacture any type of RFID labels, tickets and tags, contact and contactless cards, including ID cards and e-passports. "Look at our plant in Malaysia's state Melaka. It is already serving as a hub for distribution of goods not only in Asia but also in Europe. Also, let’s not forget that Malaysia is ideally located between China and India," he said. Wachtmeister, who is also Managing Director of the Malaysian unit, Muehelbauer Technologies Sdn Bhd, said the the company also developed and produced machinery for semi-conductor industries. "Malaysia was and is a cost-effective production site. It offers advantages for mass output and value-added production. It is already a hi-tech hub," he said. Muehlbauer, a medium-sized company, employs nearly 3000 people worldwide. It has invested some US$10.5 million (RM40 million) in fixed assets and US$7.87 million (RM30 million) in research and training in Malaysia where it has introduced the RFID/solar/ID document competence. Muehlbauer's Malaysian plant produces machinery and equipment for semiconductor industry, smart card and ID document industry, smart label (RFID) industry; carrier tapes for semiconductor industry and precision parts. (US$1 = RM3.80) --BERNAMA