CHIEF Minister Lim Guan Eng received Masahiko Kawamura, who’s managing director of Toray Group (Malaysia) and Toray Group corporate affairs director Hun Keng Kuan, at his office on Dec 18.
During their meeting which lasted almost an hour, Kawamura conveyed Toray’s investment plans in the state as well as his vision for the growth of the company in Penang, whose people’s values and work ethics he’s most confident and comfortable with.
Toray, with its headquarters in Tokyo and founded in 1926, deals primarily in fibres & textiles, plastics & chemicals and is strategically expanding its IT-related products, carbon composite materials, environment & engineering as well as life sciences and other related businesses.
The company has a workforce of 2,587 in Malaysia with a total revenue of RM3,550 million for the 2015 financial year.
Also present was investPenang CEO Datuk Loo Lee Lian who’s tasked by Lim to provide whatever assistance needed by Kawamura.
On a personal note, Kawamura chairs the Penang Japanese Manufacturers Association as well as the steering committee of the Penang Japanese School in Sungai Pinang.
He also serves on the advisory board of Toyohashi University of Technology Penang campus.
Towards the end of the meeting, Kawamura voiced his concern over the Nov 4 & 5 floods in Penang and gave a contribution to the flood relief fund.