NCER SDP can stimulate Perlis’ economic growth, boost GDP to RM7.1 bln
26 Oct 2020
The Northern Corridor Economic Region’s (NCER) Strategic Development Plan (SDP) 2021-2025 is able to stimulate the economic growth of Perlis at a time when the world is facing a challenging financial environment.
In a statement today, the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) said as of end-September, the total investments in Perlis amounted to RM530 million and more than 350 new jobs were created.
It said the initiatives in the SDP was expected to increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the state to RM7.1 billion and create more than 5,700 new jobs and 1,400 entrepreneurs.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azlan Man said the Perlis state government is collaborating with the NCIA in implementing a three-pronged approach as enshrined in the SDP – human capital development, boost investment growth and improve connectivity and strategic infrastructure, in ensuring employment opportunities and safeguarding the people’s livelihoods.
He said one of the main projects that was expected to start the economic recovery process in Perlis is the Chuping Valley Industrial Area (CVIA).
“Construction work for the first phase of CVIA development with an area of 178.06 hectares is currently in full swing and is scheduled for completion in June 2022.
“Investment in excess of RM460 million, in addition to more than 600 new job opportunities, is currently being planned, comprising companies involved in the manufacturing of health equipment, electrical and electronics, education and smart farming industry,” he said.
Azlan said despite the COVID-19 pandemic, CVIA is still able to attract investors through its existing potential, stimulating the growth of the area with various innovation-based and knowledge-intensive business activities in the high-growth and high-value sectors.
He said more than 12,000 job opportunities would be created when the 1006.85 hectares development area is fully completed later.
“The development and success of CVIA is important for Perlis as it is a major industrial park for economic activities that can be developed together as a sustainable model and will have a mutually beneficial network with industry and related support functions, boosting the socio-economic recovery of the people,” he said.
Other important projects in the state are the Perlis Inland Port (PIP) that will further enhance the logistics network from the Thai Border to Penang Port and further boost integrated development in the Chuping Valley area which includes CVIA and Chuping Agro Valley (CAV) by leveraging the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) regional cooperation.
Azlan said complementing the development in the Chuping Valley, CAV is an integrated bio-agricultural network targeting high-quality alternative crops in four agro-food sectors that include cassava for starch production, MD2 premium pineapple, Harum Manis mango and production of livestock feed based on cassava and biomass starch by-products.
“NCIA Strategic Investment, High Impact Projects and Human Capital Programmes are very important in supporting and accelerating the economic resurgence of the state through the creation of employment opportunities and economic activities for the people”, he said.
Meanwhile, NCIA chief executive officer Datuk Seri Jebasingam Issace John said the immediate need of the people is job opportunities, as well as the recovery of economic activities.
“We are committed to ensuring that these efforts will further boost the people’s socio-economic recovery process post-COVID-19.
“All stakeholders in NCER should continue to work together in a concerted effort to combat this challenging economic environment for the benefit of the people,” he said.
To date, there are about 1,800 participants among youths, women and unemployed graduates in Perlis who benefitted from the Human Capital Programme conducted by NCIA through empowerNCER, entrepreneurNCER and NCER Talent Enhancement Programme, while the Bumiputera Entrepreneur Fund programme has successfully created 43 new jobs.
These integrated programmes will provide the development of required entrepreneurial skills, education, job placement, business and financial assistance for targeted groups, as well as incentives to the private sector and small and medium enterprises.
Meanwhile, JomKerja@NCER and JomNiaga@NCER are NCIA fast-track programmes that aims to produce more than 400 job opportunities and entrepreneurs to help those affected by the pandemic.
Source: Bernama
