Hitachi eyes infrastructure projects in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: Japanese technology giant, Hitachi, is eyeing infrastructure projects in Malaysia, namely power generation and transportation.

Managing Director of Hitachi Asia, Yukio Toyoshima, said Hitachi, which was mainly involved in home electronics business, has shifted its focus to include energy, transportation, urban development, information technology (IT) and healthcare sectors in Malaysia.

"This is in line with the Malaysian government's aims to achieve developed nation status by 2020, Hitachi expects a lot of business opportunities in this country," Toyoshima said in an interview with Bernama at the recent International Greentech and Eco-Products Exhibition and Conference Malaysia 2013 here.
Toyoshima said Hitachi has various business projects in Malaysia. 

"One of our recent achievements was in the supply of equipment for ultra-super critical coal-fired thermal power plant project.

"Thailand and Singapore are the biggest markets for Hitachi in the Asean region while Malaysia is a high-growth market in the region.

"We are aiming to expand on our revenue outside Japan," he said.
He said for financial year ended March 31, 2013, revenue from Asia, excluding China, comprised 19 per cent of the group's revenue.

Toyoshima said Hitachi could contribute its expertise in rail projects in Malaysia based on its experience in Japan and elsewhere.

"We are also setting up a locomotive factory and maintenance company in UK in one or two years in line with our participation in high-speed train projects there," he said.

Hitachi is also a leading supplier of high-speed trains such as the Shinkansen bullet train for the Japanese and international markets.

In Malaysia, Toyoshima said, Hitachi is also keen to expand its services and solution businesses in line with the Malaysian government's eagerness to move into the knowledge-intensive and value-added industries.

On whether Hitachi plans to expand its factories in Malaysia, Toyoshima said there are no firm plans yet.

Hitachi has already established manufacturing and design facilities for automotive audio and video products and related accessories, room air-conditioners and rotary compressors and optical data storage drivers.

In March this year, Hitachi announced that its wholly-owned unit, Hitachi Systems Ltd, has collaborated with Sunway Technology, an IT solutions provider, to establish an IT service joint venture.

Hitachi also took over eBworx Bhd, a Malaysian financial IT solutions company in May this yea