Five China-Based Companies Express Interest to Invest in Gerbang Nusajaya Renewable Energy Industrial Park

KUALA LUMPUR, 10 October 2024 – UEM Group Berhad (UEM Group), through its township and property arm, UEM Sunrise Berhad (UEM Sunrise), together with ITRAMAS Corporation Sdn Bhd (ITRAMAS) and China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), held an Agreement Exchange Ceremony today to further advance the development of a Renewable Energy (RE) Industrial Park. The strategic partnership is aimed at developing a RE Industrial Park, measuring 40-acres in Gerbang Nusajaya, Iskandar Puteri, Johor. The RE Industrial Park is part of the one (1) gigawatt (GW) hybrid solar power plant project and is one of the flagship catalytic projects under Malaysia's National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), announced in July last year.

The exchange of agreements was witnessed by YB Tuan Mohd Rafizi Bin Ramli, Minister of Economy, and YB Tuan Nik Nazmi Bin Nik Ahmad, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, during the International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition and Conference Malaysia (IGEM) 2024.

The development of the RE Industrial Park supports Malaysia's initiatives under the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) and is aimed at attracting Foreign Direct Investment to strengthen the country's renewable energy sector. By enhancing Malaysia's solar supply chain and fostering collaboration with global solar manufacturers, this initiative contributes to the country's energy transition goals while positioning the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) as a hub for green technology and economic growth.

This event marks significant progress following the May 2024 signing of the original MoU in Beijing between UEM Sunrise, ITRAMAS, and CMEC (the Consortium) for the development of the RE Industrial Park. During the delegation visit to China, the Consortium engaged with global renewable energy leaders, generating strong international interest in Malaysia's renewable energy sector. These discussions have laid the foundation for today's agreement exchange, which reflects ongoing efforts to develop the RE Industrial Park and further solidify international interest in Malaysia's renewable energy landscape.

As part of this progress, several companies are now in various stages of discussion with the Consortium to set-up manufacturing and research & development facilities in Malaysia to cater to the local and regional markets, which will play a pivotal role in enhancing Malaysia's renewable energy infrastructure and elevate Malaysia into a renewable energy hub in ASEAN.

In a short span of five months, the Consortium has started collaborating with five international companies, of which China Machinery Engineering Wuxi Co. Ltd. (CMEC WUXI), CMEC's Wuxi manufacturing arm, and Wuxi Longmax Technology Co., Ltd. (Longmax), a global leader in solar photovoltaic (PV) combiner box and eBOS solutions, are in the midst of setting up local manufacturing facilities in Malaysia. CMEC WUXI and Longmax will also develop a solar module manufacturing facility and a solar combiner box production facility within the RE Industrial Park.

In addition to the partnerships with CMEC WUXI and Longmax, the RE Industrial Park has attracted interest from three leading international RE manufacturers—Gotion for Battery Energy Storage Systems, Hopewind for Solar Inverters and Huasun for Heterojunction (HJT) modules—to invest in the RE Industrial Park and renewable energy offtake. These collaborations represent Malaysia's growing stature in the renewable energy sector and are expected to further strengthen the local solar supply chain.

Sufian Abdullah, CEO of UEM Sunrise, stated:

"Today's document exchange not only strengthens our shared vision for Malaysia's renewable energy future but also highlights UEM Sunrise's dedication to supporting our partners. In collaboration with ITRAMAS, CMEC, and our esteemed partners from China, we are committed to fostering an environment that promotes seamless growth, innovation, and excellence in local manufacturing. As we establish Gerbang Nusajaya as a renewable energy hub, UEM Sunrise looks forward to provide the infrastructure, resources, and bring the collaborative spirit required to bring form to this vision in a responsible and sustainable manner."

Lee Choo Boo, Group Managing Director of ITRAMAS Corporation, remarked:

"The RE Industrial Park is a testament to Malaysia's commitment to renewable energy, and we are proud to collaborate with CMEC and our other strategic partners to bring world-class renewable energy technologies to Malaysia. This is not only about driving local manufacturing and supply chain development but about supporting Malaysia's broader energy transition under the NETR framework. The participation of top international players in this initiative demonstrates the confidence in Malaysia as a growing hub for clean energy solutions."

Kathy Xu, General Manager of CMEC WUXI, stated:

"Driving innovation and powering the future with world-class expertise: Our collaboration brings together cutting-edge technology and deep industry expertise to create sustainable solutions for the evolving energy landscape. By combining our shared vision for innovation and excellence, we are setting new benchmarks in efficiency, reliability, and green energy development. This partnership not only strengthens our competitive edge but also accelerates the transition toward a more sustainable and connected world."

Henry Yang, CEO of Longmax, remarked:

"Our partnership represents a strategic milestone in bringing advanced DC connection technology to Malaysia. As the global leader in combiner box solutions, we are excited to localize our manufacturing capabilities and contribute to Malaysia's growing renewable energy sector. By leveraging our deep expertise and proven track record, we aim to enhance the efficiency and reliability of solar installations in the region, while supporting Malaysia's energy transition goals under the NETR framework. We look forward to advancing the country's solar supply chain and driving sustainable growth both locally and internationally."

Group photo of UEM Sunrise, ITRAMAS and CMEC at the Agreement Exchange Ceremony to Develop a RE Industrial Park in Johor. From left to right:

• Hu Jianhui, Deputy Manager of CMEC 5th Complete Plants Division
• Sufian Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer of UEM Sunrise
• Jacky Chan, Project Development Director of Anhui Huasun Energy Co., Ltd
• Harman Faiz, Acting Chief Executive Officer of UEM Lestra
• YB Tuan Mohd Rafizi bin Ramli, Minister of Economy
• YB Tuan Nik Nazmi bin Nik Ahmad, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability
• Dato' Amran Hafiz Affifudin, Managing Director of UEM Group
• Lee Choo Boo, Managing Director of ITRAMAS
• Olivia Dong, Deputy General Manager of CMEC New Energy Division Two
• Henry Yang, Chief Executive Officer of Wuxi Longmax Technology Co., Ltd

Photo 2: Agreement Exchange Ceremony between UEM Sunrise, ITRAMAS and CMEC. From left to right:

• Hu Jianhui, Deputy Manager of CMEC 5th Complete Plants Division
• Sufian Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer of UEM Sunrise
• YB Tuan Mohd Rafizi bin Ramli, Minister of Economy
• YB Tuan Nik Nazmi bin Nik Ahmad, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability
• Lee Choo Boo, Managing Director of ITRAMAS
• Dato' Amran Hafiz Affifudin, Managing Director of UEM Group