Having already established Kuala Lumpur as its Southeast Asian hub, BAE Systems is now looking beyond peninsula Malaysia to strengthen its presence in East Malaysia, with a visit by senior company representatives
The focus of this trade mission will be state government, regional development agencies and local businesses throughout Sarawak, Sabah and Labuan.
BAE Systems has had a presence in Malaysia for more than 20 years with an established South East Asia regional headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. The Company is looking to play a significant role in Malaysia’s economic, technology and capacity development via partnerships with innovative SMEs, government agencies and key academic institutions, as well as supporting the development of skills and technology through vocational training.
As previously announced, BAE Systems is to expand its existing Malaysian joint venture with Boustead Heavy Industry Corporation, BHIC Bofors Asia Sdn Bhd (BHIC Bofors), which already has an industrial facility in Kota Kinabalu. This expansion will include manufacture and supply of gun systems for the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) and the wider Southeast Asian region.
Such initiatives translate to positive implications for the Malaysian economy – both in the East and in the peninsula. Through the joint venture, BHIC Bofors will produce new guns locally, using an increased number of parts from local suppliers. The Malaysian supplier base will be expanded through a ‘vendor development programme’ which includes technology transfer from BAE Systems Bofors’ factory in Karlskoga, Sweden.
BAE Systems has supplied Malaysia with Bofors naval guns for decades and today there are about 140 in service. BAE Systems’ Malaysian joint venture, with BHIC Bofors Asia, was established in 2004 and has supported the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) over the last eight years. It now employs 22 people in Kuala Lumpur, Lumut and Kota Kinabalu. The joint venture currently supports the RMN with spares, maintenance, through-life support, training, lifetime extension, test, installation and setting to work on ships.
”BAE Systems recognises Malaysia’s ambitions to access sustainable technologies and capabilities, which will help to build a vibrant high technology industrial base with access to global markets. BAE Systems already has a long history working with Malaysian industry – Boustead included; we will continue to build on existing relationships and forge new ones” said John Brosnan, BAE Systems Managing Director of South East Asia.
“BAE Systems is committed to Malaysia, which our recent announcements demonstrate. We’ve signed memorandum of understandings (MOUs) with Composites Technology Research Malaysia (CTRM), Malaysian Industry Group High Technology (MIGHT), Masterplan Consulting and we’re sponsoring Malaysian students to study in the United Kingdom through BAE Systems Malaysia Chevening Scholarships, thereby helping to add sustainable value to the Malaysian economy, investing in human capital and growing the indigenous technology base. Our involvement in Malaysia isn’t just limited to defence – it is far broader than that” explained John Brosnan.