The solar photovoltaic (PV) industry, which registered a revenue of RM20.81 billion and created 17,861 jobs last year, is a new source of growth for Malaysia.
“The Malaysia’s solar PV industry has made significant progress in both the manufacturing and the installation sectors,” the Malaysia Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) said in a statement.
It said the PV industry contributed to economic growth with an average annual export growth of 50 per cent from 2008 until 2013.
As part of MIGHT’s outreach programme to bolster the country’s shift to renewable energy, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong visited First Solar (M) Sdn Bhd recently.
Mah, who is also minister in charge of MIGHT, was accompanied by MIGHT President and Chief Executive Officer Datuk Dr Mohd Yusoff Sulaiman.
Mah said solar PV should be one of the strongest sustainable and new competitive advantage for Malaysia, hence the need to encourage the community to turn to green by considering the use of solar as the alternative energy source.
Mohd Yusoff said it was important to build a conducive solar ecosystem for the industry to grow and Malaysia is now the world’s third largest manufacturer of PV cell and module.
“Constant and continuous dialogue between the industry and the government is crucial to strengthen institutional support to drive the growth of the PV industry,” he added.
