Taiwan wants eco investments in Malaysia

Taiwan is encouraging more high-end investments into Malaysia especially in green technology and biotechnology sectors.

Deputy Representative (Economic Affairs) at the Taipei Economic and
Culture Office in Malaysia, Lin Min-Li said, several Taiwanese companies were
keen to invest in Malaysia due to its strategic location.

He said Taiwan AU Optronics (AOU) and American Sun Power had invested
massively in Malaysia over the past decade to build the Solar City in Malacca.


With investments of up to US$600 million, the Solar City is expected to
become one of the world's largest factory of its kind by 2013.

Lin was speaking at a media briefing today in conjunction with the second
International Greentech and Eco Products Exhibition and Conference
Malaysia (IGEM) 2011, a four-day event starting tomorrow at the KL Convention
Centre.

Lin said Malaysia was most active amongn Asean countries in developing green
industry but the country lacked human resource and related technology that
Taiwan has in abundance.

"Hence, Taiwan can definitely complement Malaysia's goals and ambitions in
the green marketplace," he added.

At this year's IGEM, Lin said Taiwan increased the number of exhibitors and
booths to 33 and 35, respectively, from only 14 companies and booths last year, adding that there would be two pavilions namely the Taiwan Pavilion and Green Light Pavilion.

He said the highlights of this year's IGEM would be Polli-Bricks, a
recycled polymer bottle that can be interlocked to build an incredible array of
structures.

Made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate bottles, the lightweight
bricks can used to build anything from fences and roofs to pots for plants,
skylights and walls of light.

Polli-Bricks is invented by Taiwan-based company Miniwiz Sustainable Energy
Development Ltd.

Miniwiz Building Solution Director David Lee said making a structure out of
the bottles reduced construction and material cost by 30 per cent compared with traditional building.

Lee said Miniwiz was currently working with the Malaysian government to
embark on a green building project in Malacca that applied Polli-Bricks.

He, however, declined to elaborate, adding that an official announcement
would be made at the IGEM 2011.

Miniwiz unveiled the world's first recycled PET building, EcoArk
Pavilion, made out of 1.5 million plastic bottles in Taipei which was featured
on Discovery Channel.

Lee said Miniwiz was expanding worldwide and planned to set up a joint
venture company in Malaysia. He added that Miniwiz had partners in Germany and would soon link up with partners in South America. -- Bernama