FOUR NEW PROJECTS: Northern Corridor has attracted RM6.7b investments in H1

THE Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER), launched seven years ago to spur development in the northern states, has attracted RM6.7 billion in investments in the first half of the year and is on track to hit its RM10 billion target by year-end.

The investments are in four projects that are expected to create close to 10,000 working and business opportunities in Perlis, Kedah, Penang and the northern part of Perak.

Northern Corridor Implementation Agency (NCIA) chief executive Datuk Redza Rafiq said the agency is confident of achieving the target from local and foreign investors by year-end.

“The Northern Corridor is set to continue its four thrusts, which are manufacturing, tourism, agriculture and logistics,” he said yesterday after announcing its progress report and a ceremony to exchange memorandum of agreement documents between NCIA and the four companies involved in the projects.

“We will continue with our efforts to

broaden private sector participation, especially locally, while ensuring the spillover of the success is distributed equitably among the rakyat,” he said.

Speaking after the NCIA 12th Council

Meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Redza said NCIA has been looking at designing a new manufacturing ecosystem by venturing into growth sectors like medical devices.

The event at Perdana Putra was witnessed by Najib and Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

NCIA’s manufacturing and medical tourism project agreements were forged with KPJ Healthcare Bhd, Sentinex Sdn Bhd, Senja Aman Holdings Sdn Bhd and Eco Medi Glove Sdn Bhd.

KPJ, which was represented by its managing director Amiruddin Abdul Satar, is in the midst of expanding its healthcare services in Perlis by developing the first private specialist hospital in Kangar.

Amiruddin said once completed in the middle of next year, the
private hospital will have the
potential to attract 155,374 Thai visitors due to its proximity to southern Thailand.

Sentinex, which was represented by its chief executive officer Low Chin Guan, is setting up an integrated medical devices manufacturing plant on a 20.9ha site at the Kulim Hi-Tech Park in Kedah.

Upon completion of the manufacturing plant, which will house energy-efficiency facilities and high-technology equipment, the company is expected to create 2,670 jobs with a projected turnover of RM1.15 billion per year.

Meanwhile, Senja Aman plans to transform two plots of land in Teluk Bahang, Penang, into an “integrated wellness resort” that would create 586 jobs, ranging from medical and hospitality to other support services.

Eco Medi Glove has acquired a 12ha plot in Taiping, Perak, to expand its production plant.

The company plans to construct six three-storey buildings that will help lift its production capacity from 440 million pairs of gloves to a billion pairs annually, and create 1,510 jobs until 2018.

Senja Aman was represented by executive director Loo Hooi Keat, while Eco Medi Glove by CEO Wong Teek Son.

Najib also witnessed the exchanging of memorandum of agreement between MK Land Holdings Bhd and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

Redza, in a statement, said the second phase of development for states under NCER had started last year.

“We have set a firm footing towards turning the region into a world-class economic region by 2025,” he said.

source:NSt