OSAKA – April 16: A strategic USD 20 million agreement signed between Pertama Ferroalloys Sdn Bhd and the Export – Import Bank of Malaysia Berhad (EXIM Bank) is poised to pave the way for the development of Sarawak’s first production facilities for Electrolytic Manganese Metal (EMM) and High Purity Manganese Sulphate (HPMnS) – key materials in the renewable energy and electric vehicle (EV) sectors. According to a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS) news report, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed at the Malaysian Pavillion during the OSAKA EXPO 2025 in Japan, marks a major step forward in Sarawak’s push to position itself as a hub for green industrial materials. The signing was formalized by EXIM Bank president and chief executive officer Nurbayu Kasim Chang and Pertama Ferroalloys chairman Hirotaka Suzuki. It was witnessed by secretary-general of the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) Malaysia, Dato Hairil Yahri Yaacob, and