GEORGE TOWN: US-based National Instruments (NI) has committed to invest US$80 million in next few years in Penang as it expands its operations.

NI vice president of manufacturing Rob Porterfield said on May 29 the investment would create up to 1,500 jobs in Penang.

The multinational corporation had signed a RM36 million (US$10 million) deal with the Penang Development Corporation to acquire a 17-acre site in Batu Maung for its research and development and operations.

Also present at the signing ceremony were Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, his deputy P. Ramasamy, PDC general manager Datuk Rosli Jaafar and NI vice president and general counsel David G Hugley.

NI has more than 5,000 employees in 40 countries and sells off the shelf software such as NI LabVIEW and modular cost effective hardware to more than 30,000 companies worldwide.

Porterfield said NI was recruiting senior engineers and other personnel for key R & D positions for its R & D operations which starts this year-end.

"Once hired, they will travel to our headquarters in Austin, Texas to receive extensive on the job training for a year," he added.

Porterfield said there was a slight delay in starting its manufacturing operations due to the current global economic situation.

He added Penang offered exceptionally skilled workforce comprising engineers, scientists and this was a key factor to select Malaysia and Penang in particular for the new R&D plant.

"We will invest up to 16 per cent of our revenue in R & D and Penang will play a key role for NI in the years to come," he added.

He also said 50% of the proposed 1,500 workforce would be for manufacturing and the rest for its R & D, product development, shared services, IT and finance positions.