KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is looking forward to the completion of a copper foil manufacturing plant next year that will provide over 400 jobs, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

       The South Korean company SK Nexilis, which signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the state government on March 23 last year and started work on July 28, is expected to see the completion of the building by 2023.

       "The project, involving a RM4.2bil investment, will provide over 400 job opportunities.

       “As per government policy, 80% of the workforce will come from Sabah so we are excited to see this materialise,” Hajiji said during a site visit to the area here on Thursday (March 17).

       He added that the factory, which is under construction on a 40.4ha land at the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Plant, is about 10% done.

       “When completed, we can expect not only job opportunities, but industries like logistics and related fields will benefit as well,” he said, adding that this is among the many initiatives by the government to help boost Sabah's economy.

       Earlier on Thursday (March 17), Hajiji also witnessed the signing of a lease agreement between KKIP Sdn Bhd and SBH Kibing Solar New Materials (M) Sdn Bhd, apart from visiting a proposed site for the solar manufacturing plant.

       This company will invest RM2bil in Sabah for three main components – silica sand mining, construction of a processing factory and photovoltaic manufacturing plant.

       SBH Kibing will rent a 52.7ha land for a 30-year period and during this time provide some 1,800 employment opportunities.