MOU signing between Sunsuria Bhd and Sinotrans Ltd on Logistic real estate and services alliance. (left to right: Sinotrans Ltd chairman Li Guan Peng, Malaysia’s Special Envoy to China YB Tan Kok Wai and Sunsuria Bhd executive chairman Tan Sri Datuk Ter Leong Yap)
KUALA LUMPUR: The Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, China recently concluded with newly forged ties between various government and private sector entities.
Among the delegates invited to participate in the forum was Ter, who represented Sunsuria Bhd to ink business collaborations with two Chinese firms.
According to the statement, witnessed by Tan, Ter signed a MOU with Chinese logistics provider Sinotrans Ltd to explore business opportunities in Smart Logistics Park and Business, as well as a Strategic Cooperation Agreement (SCA) with Chinese automotive design and engineering firm IAT Automobile Technology Co Ltd on an ASEAN Automotive Design & Innovation Centre (AADIC) for product research & design, talent development and smart technology.
Leveraging the strategic geographical location of Malaysia as a transit hub, Sunsuria also stands to gain from the experience and networks of its Chinese partners to explore and expand the above business opportunities.
During the signing ceremony, Tan applauded the record-high volume of China-Malaysia bilateral trade last year amounting to USD108.6bil (RM443.9bil) — an increase of 683 times since the establishment of the 45-year diplomatic relationship between Malaysia and China. Strong bilateral ties are set to improve further and trade volume expected to increase as the respective nations’ leaders share a mutual ‘win-win’ understanding.
The MOU signed with Li will see Sunsuria collaborating with Sinotrans to establish and operate a logistics-related business in Malaysia, in line with China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The proposed joint-venture stands to benefit from Malaysia’s strategic geographical location as a regional logistics hub, as well as various upcoming projects.
Meanwhile, under the SCA signed with IAT managing director Dr Xuan Qi Wu, Sunsuria aims to form a joint-venture company together with IAT, one of China’s leading independent automotive design and engineering entities, to establish the AADIC, a research, development and innovation hub to undertake automotive product design, industry talent development through training and learning, car sharing, test track and cutting-edge technology services in order to improve operational efficiency for the automotive industry in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.
The AADIC is set up to be the main operation centre to import electric vehicles that have been legally modified in China and to obtain a car-sharing operations license in Malaysia. Sunsuria’s flagship integrated development, Sunsuria City, will be the launchpad of the first fleet of 100 imported electric vehicles.
IAT, which designs and develops cars for almost every major Chinese automaker will look into prospective partnerships with schools and enterprises to cultivate local Malaysian talent and services in the automotive sector.
Under the arrangement of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), Malaysia Minister of International Trade and Industry YB Datuk Ignatius Darrell Leiking attended the presentation of collaborations and exchange of ideas between Sunsuria and IAT. Leiking expressed his optimism that the partnership will promote technology transfer and strengthen the quality of training in Malaysia.
“We are looking forward to participating in the AADIC, as the initiative will make Malaysia the central focus of ASEAN in cutting-edge automotive research, talent development in the automotive industry, as well as improving the quality of the students through advanced technology, management processes and engineering research and development.
“Besides, this will provide more practical training for the students in improving their capability in design and development,” said Ter during the presentation.
According to him, he was pleased to announce Sunsuria’s partnerships with Sinotrans Limited and IAT as they reflected their commitment towards continuous improvement and innovation. He also expressed that by tapping into Sinotrans’ vast experience, Sunsuria is confident that they will be able to capitalise on the Smart Logistics Park and Business at the opportune time with the healthy growth of cross-border e-commerce, while the Belt and Road Initiative goes into full swing with major infrastructural projects underway.
“Through a diversified portfolio of innovative business ventures, we look forward to delivering even more value to their stakeholders.
“Also, by leveraging on IAT’s technical expertise and international network, electric car sharing will soon be a reality in Sunsuria City, living up to the township’s ‘Smart, Livable and Sustainable’ concept of integrated connectivity and intelligent convenience,” said Ter.
Ter added that the collaboration with IAT is also a continuation of the group’s focus on homegrown talent development. In November last year, Sunsuria and Xiamen University Malaysia inked an MOU to collaborate on internships and industrial training.
Strategic cooperation agreement signing ceremony between Sunsuria Berhad and IAT Automobile Technology Co. Ltd on ASEAN Automotive Design & Innovation Centre. (left to right: Xuan, Tan and Ter)
