Kedah reaches agreement with Sime Darby for KHTP’s Phase 4A expansion
21 Sep 2023
Kedah has reached an agreement with Sime Darby Plantation Bhd for the acquisition of a 100ha of land for the Kulim Hi-Tech Park (KHTP) Phase 4A expansion.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said the agreement would be a major boost towards meeting the state government’s target of attracting minimum RM10 billion annual investment under the Kedah 2035 Development Plan.
“I wish to announce that we have finalised the KHTP’s Phase 4A expansion after concluding our negotiation with Sime Darby. There has been new development and we have successfully restored the plan (for KHTP expansion).
“(The talks with) Sime Darby was resolved through negotiations but it is within a range that we (the state) can still afford,” he said at a press conference after chairing state-owned Kulim Technology Park Corporation (KTPC) board meeting at Wisma Darul Aman here today.
Present were state Industrial and Investment, Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Committee chairman Dr Haim Hilman Abdullah and his predecessor Datuk Dr Ku Abdul Rahman Ku Ismail.
Sanusi said that KPTC had discussed the dates to begin the infrastructure development works on the KTHP Phase 4A.
He said nearly half of the 100ha site was slated to be offered for leasing by potential investors while the rest was reserved for infrastructures, adding that half of the land slated for leasing by investors had been booked.
Meanwhile, Sanusi thanked the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA) and other relevant agencies for Kedah achievement in attracting RM14.6 billion investment for the period of first six months of this year.
He attributed the success to the sound infrastructures offered in KHTP, which continues to propel investments in Kedah manufacturing sector, as well as the fast investment approval system adopted by the state administration.
“We are confident that the value of investments will increase further this year. This is inline with our target to achieve a minimum average RM10 billion investment under the Kedah 2023 Development Plan.
“It is related to all the preparations we made, in particular facilities that we offer in Kedah and most important is the speed in making decisions (on investment application). I believe KHTP has the right formula,” he said.
Moving forward, Sanusi said the state government would be organising a workshop, to be spearheaded by Haim, to chart a new direction for Kedah industry sector.
On Sunday, it was reported that Malaysia has attracted approved investments worth RM132.6 billion (US$28.4 billion) in services and manufacturing sectors between January and June this year.
The top five states that recorded the highest investments are Kuala Lumpur with RM31.7 billion), followed by Selangor (RM29.7 billion), Kedah (RM14.6 billion), Johor (RM14.2 billion) and Sabah (RM9 billion).
Source: NST
