Sarawak, Malaysia Selected as Hydrogen Industry Partner of Changwon City

TanSri Haji Abdul, Head of Economic Development Agency
Visits Hong Nampyo, Mayor of Changwon, Hopes for Exchange and Cooperation

TanSri Haji Abdul Aziz, Chairman of the Sarawak State Economic Development Authority, Malaysia, visited Changwon Special City, Gyeongnam.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Song Jong-gu] The Sarawak State Economic Development Corporation (hereinafter SEDC), the largest state government in Malaysia, which is promoting various energy projects with Korean companies based on abundant energy resources, is focusing on Changwon Special City as a partner for fostering the hydrogen industry and is expected to jointly promote various hydrogen business collaborations with Changwon.

On the 10th, Tan Sri Haji Abdul Aziz, Chief of the Sarawak State Economic Development Corporation, visited Changwon City Hall, met with Mayor Hong Nam-pyo, held an energy industry exchange meeting between Changwon Special City and SEDC, and discussed Changwon’s cooperation for fostering Sarawak’s hydrogen industry and mutual cooperation plans for hydrogen business.

Sarawak, located on the northwest coast of Borneo Island, is the largest state government in Malaysia and in 2019 became the first in Southeast Asia to start building hydrogen production plants and charging infrastructure, as well as introducing hydrogen vehicles.

Through SEDC, Sarawak is leading various policies to transition into a hydrogen economy nation, including promoting the introduction of hydrogen buses and autonomous hydrogen vehicles in its capital, Kuching.

Additionally, it is advancing various energy projects such as methanol projects, gas plant businesses, and clean hydrogen projects in collaboration with Korean companies.

Notably, major companies from Changwon such as Hyosung Goodsprings, Doosan Mecatec, PK Valve, and Hanwha Power Systems are responsible for manufacturing and supplying key equipment for these projects.

Tan Sri Haji Abdul Aziz, Chief of SEDC, along with SEDC officials, toured Changwon’s energy business partners and the hydrogen industry circular system demonstration complex, an icon of Changwon’s hydrogen industry, to establish partnerships for fostering Sarawak’s energy industry and benchmarking the hydrogen industry.

He highly evaluated Changwon’s world-class hydrogen industry competitiveness, demonstrated through independent technology acquisition and product verification of hydrogen production and charging facilities, new mobility deployment and demonstration such as hydrogen buses, hydrogen trucks, and hydrogen trams, and promotion of hydrogen fuel cell power generation in collaboration with local companies.

During his visit to Mayor Hong Nam-pyo, Chief Aziz discussed participation plans for excellent Changwon companies in various Sarawak-led energy projects, cooperation plans for fostering Sarawak’s hydrogen industry, and joint cooperation promotion plans for various hydrogen businesses between Changwon and Sarawak.

At the energy industry exchange meeting between Changwon and SEDC, Chief Aziz and SEDC officials strongly expressed their hope that Changwon will become a partner in the development of Sarawak’s hydrogen industry, and requested Mayor Hong Nam-pyo to visit the hydrogen conference to be held in Sarawak this December to introduce Changwon’s hydrogen policies and establish cooperative relations.

Mayor Hong said, “Sarawak is a treasure trove of Malaysia’s energy resources, and Changwon companies play an important role in various energy projects, making Sarawak a valuable international trade partner for Changwon, which aims to be a central city in Northeast Asia. I take great pride in Chief Aziz of SEDC, who is leading Sarawak’s economic development, requesting Changwon as a partner for the development of Sarawak’s hydrogen industry.”

He added, “The exchange between Changwon and Sarawak goes beyond simple business matching and providing hydrogen policy know-how. It will support the entry of Korea’s advanced scientific and technological personnel into Sarawak, implanting Changwon’s world-class industrial capability DNA locally so that Sarawak can play a role similar to Changwon in Malaysia. Through a friendly relationship with Sarawak, we will do our best to create opportunities that can greatly benefit Changwon’s economy.”