ECK Group to partner with Kedah Govt in Kulim international airport development

24 Feb 2021

ALOR SETAR (Feb 24): Private firm, ECK Group of Companies (ECK), will enter into a partnership with the Kedah State government to develop the Kulim international airport (KXP) project.

In a statement, ECK said it would be directly involved as a strategic partner in the project, from construction to commissioning.

“This entails construction as well as bringing in airport and international cargo operators to KXP once it is completed,” it said here today.

ECK said besides the dual-runway international airport project, the partnership will also involve development of Kedah Aerotropolis and Airport City in Mukim Sidam Kiri, Kuala Muda.

It said major investors of various industries such as the financial sector, manufacturing as well as heavy and medium enterprises, particularly air technology and semiconductor would vitalise KXP and draw the world’s attention.

“Kedah Aerotropolis complements modern city development with housing, business, medical city, academy management, information and communication technology components as well as a self-contained transport hub.

“In terms of economic development, local residents and those migrating from elsewhere will derive various advantages from this development that will improve their standard of living,” it said.

To realise the project, ECK said a company would be established as a special purpose vehicle (SPV) responsible in the development and financial aspects of the airport city sited on 4,046 hectares (10,000 acres).

It said the SPV would be chaired by Tunku Laksamana of Kedah, Datuk Seri DiRaja Tunku Shazuddin Ariff Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin, while the board of directors would comprise State government and private sector representatives.

“This economic paradigm shift will potentially place Kedah at a higher level to become one of the developed States in the future,” it said.

Source: Bernama