Following the recent signing of a Heads of Agreement (HOA) between DRB HICOM and Geely in Beijing, the development of Malaysia’s Automotive High Tech Valley (AHTV) in Tanjung Malim has taken a significant step forward. This progress was highlighted at the Global Investors & Vendors Convention 2023, organized by Proton, which attracted key stakeholders and industry participants from around the world.
The convention, held in Kuala Lumpur, brought together over 200 attendees, including government officials, management representatives from DRB-HICOM, Geely, and PRroton, local and overseas vendors, and 42 automotive suppliers from China. The keynote address was delivered by the esteemed Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, YB Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Bin Tengku Abdul Aziz.
The event served as a platform for potential overseas investors to interact with government agencies and local vendors, while also showcasing the progress made at the AHTV project site. Furthermore, participants had the opportunity to learn about government incentives and the prospects of establishing new businesses within the AHTV, which is expected to evolve into a fully integrated automotive city.
The envisioned AHTV will be a globally recognized center for research and development of high-tech automotive components, with a strong focus on tropical-based innovation. The plan includes the establishment of a research university aimed at enhancing the skills of Malaysian automotive workers and positioning the country as a regional leader in automotive engineering, information technology, artificial intelligence, and software development education.
Collaboration between Geely and Proton, coupled with the strong interest from Chinese vendors, is expected to garner support from the Chinese government, potentially leading to even greater investments in AHTV and Malaysia. Geely’s existing high-tech ecosystem and their partnership with Proton have already attracted investors and component suppliers to Tanjung Malim, further contributing to the project’s advancement.
Proton, which has operated its production plant in Tanjung Malim for the past 20 years, stands to benefit from the automotive hub’s development by leveraging the presence of high-tech suppliers at AHTV. Moreover, the company will bring additional advantages to the surrounding area by fully relocating its manufacturing and research and design facilities to the hub by 2026.
