ECERDC pursues German investment to develop recreational vehicle industry in ECER

ECERDC pursues German investment to develop recreational vehicle industry in ECER

16 Jun 2022

The East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) is pursuing investment from renowned German recreational vehicle (RV) manufacturing companies to develop the RV industry in the East Coast Economic Region (ECER).

It said following the increase in demand for safer options to travel and be closer to nature during the pandemic as well as the growing number of RV enthusiasts worldwide, ECERDC has taken steps to attract established foreign RV industry players to explore investment and business opportunities in ECER.

In a statement today, chief executive officer Datuk Baidzawi Che Mat said ECERDC has started the initiative to attract RV industry players for more than a year, and in February, they accepted ECERDC’s invitation to come to Malaysia, and specifically ECER.

“Further to that visit, an ECERDC delegation is in Germany to meet potential investors who are looking into manufacturing and making Malaysia into a hub for manufacturing of caravans and motorhomes, which also includes a visit to their manufacturing plants.

“ECERDC is working closely with the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) and Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) to pursue the investment and the prospect is looking bright,” he said.

Meanwhile, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed today between ECERDC and Caravaning Industrie Verband e.V. (CIVD), which represents German RV industry players, to collaborate and  spearhead the development of the RV industry in ECER. 

This is further to the non-disclosure agreement (NDA) signed in April 2022.

Commenting on the MoU, Baidzawi said it will enable ECERDC to leverage on CIVD’s knowledge, expertise and experience in the RV industry to develop ECER’s RV industry eco-system guidelines, best-practices as well as to identify and introduce strategic industry partners or potential investors for the manufacturing of RVs in ECER.

“It will assist our initiative in establishing ECER as the hub for manufacturing of RV vehicles and put Malaysia on the map for RV enthusiasts across the region.

“Our collaboration is a milestone and we look forward to securing foreign direct investments which to date has attracted two confirmed interests from renowned RV manufacturers and suppliers,” he said.

On another note, EDERDC said the Malaysian delegation also met with representatives from Mercedes Benz AG to discuss potential collaborations with the RV manufacturers, as well as with one of the leading RV park operators in Germany to explore the possibility of jointly developing the first world-class RV park in  Malaysia.

“The potential for the RV Industry goes beyond the investment into the manufacturing sector and jobs related to it but will also spur the untapped local economic potential in the tourism industry.

“Malaysia, especially the East Coast, has many tourism destinations and ECERDC has already identified several locations that could be potential RV parks in the region,” it added.

Source: Bernama