NCER to implement human capital, high-impact infrastructure in Kedah under SDP 2021-2025
03 Nov 2020
Kedah is working closely with the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) to implement the various human capital and strategic high-impact infrastructure projects under the recently approved Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) Strategic Development Plan 2021-2025 (SDP) to facilitate the revival of economic activities and job creation in the region.
To address job opportunities and economic activities, NCIA has implemented catalytic projects under the SDP that will see Kedah’s gross domestic product (GDP) rise by more than 30 per cent to RM62 billion by 2025.
These strategic and high-impact projects will see the state attracting cumulative investments of more than RM32 billion by 2025 and create over 43,000 new jobs and 10,000 new entrepreneurs.
Kedah chief minister Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said the SDP was developed to provide holistic and integrated plans for human capital development, investment growth, enhancement of connectivity and strategic infrastructure for the NCER.
“Kedah state government is engaging closely with NCIA to ensure there are jobs created for the rakyat and their livelihood is improved,” he said after chairing the state steering committee meeting today.
At the meeting, the status and progress of the various projects and human capital programmes being implemented by NCIA in Kedah was updated.
For 2020, NCIA has achieved its investment target of RM2.8 billion as at end September and exceeded its target of jobs creation by almost 40 per cent.
There are still projects in the pipeline to be approved by the end of this year that will see both these key targets to be further exceeded by RM310 million and 345 jobs, respectively.
The biggest contributor to Kedah’s investments is from the manufacturing sector followed by logistics and bio-agribusiness.
Kedah Rubber City (KRC) is a national project and the first dedicated Rubber Industrial Park in the country with tremendous potential especially during the on-going pandemic environment when the demand for health rubber products is on the rise.
Phase one of this project kicked-off in December 2019 and will be completed in November 2020.
To date KRC has potential investments of over RM700 million and over 660 jobs created from local rubber industry players that have committed to be a part of KRC when operations start in first quarter (Q1) 2022.
Once fully completed in 2030, KRC will have a cumulative investment of RM10 billion and 15,000 new jobs.
Covering a total area of over 1,200 acres, KRC will accelerate the development of the Malaysian rubber industry and be the regional high-value rubber industrial hub in ASEAN.
The Kulim International Airport (KXP) is an airport city that will be an integral part of the Kedah Aerotropolis economic region driven by intermodal connectivity focusing on cargo, logistics and industrial development.
The development of KXP will feature both passenger and cargo facilities that will boost the socioeconomic development of the region.
The entire development spans an area of over 4,600 acres and KXP will create 15,000 new jobs when it is fully completed.
Complementing KXP’s cargo facilities, the Sidam Logistics, Aerospace and Manufacturing Hub (SLAM) in Kulim will focus on high-value industries such as logistics, aerospace and manufacturing and complement the development of the aerotropolis.
SLAM has the potential to bring in cumulative investments of over RM18 billion and close to 25,000 new jobs to Kedah once it is fully completed by 2050.
Project feasibility studies and land acquisition are about to be completed and preliminary works on basic infrastructure is expected to begin in 2021.
Kedah Science and Technology Park (KSTP) which is located within Bukit Kayu Hitam Special Border Economic Zone (BKHSBEZ) comprises a global research centre and a modern industrial park with the objective of advancing the development of the industries with comparative advantage to the northern region, namely agriculture/agro-science, advance materials in applied industry development, information, communication and technology (ICT) and green technology.
Once fully completed, KSTP will attract investments worth a total of RM12.9 billion and create more than 23,000 jobs.
To further drive the recovery of Kedah and NCER state’s economy, key infrastructure projects such as the Northern Corridor Highway (NCH) that spans approximately 140 kilometres connecting Sungai Petani, Kedah, Batu Kawan, Penang, and Changkat Jering in Perak will provide connectivity to the West Coast Expressway.
This alternative highway network is a catalyst for development in the NCER by providing connectivity and accessibility especially in rural and underdeveloped areas.
Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, various forms of governmental assistance have been provided to ease the hardship of the rakyat.
To support poverty eradication efforts, NCIA is always formulating integrated and specific programmes to assist target market groups most impacted by the on-going pandemic to have better job and entrepreneurship opportunities.
“In the midst of this challenging period, we shall focus on creating as much value as possible for the rakyat and the business communities.
“We shall continue to work together to overcome these challenges for the ultimate benefit of the rakyat and the region,” NCIA chief executive Datuk Seri Jebasingam Issace John said.
Source: NST Posted on : 03 November 2020
