KUALA LUMPUR: The proposed Kerian Industrial City (KIC) in Dennistown, Perak, with an estimated gross development value (GDV) of RM700mil, is expected to generate 12,000 jobs and attract new investments to the state.
Spanning 287 acres, the development aims to expand industrial capacity in Kerian and create opportunities for manufacturers, investors and local businesses.
In a statement, the project’s stakeholders said land acquisition had been completed and planning permission secured.
Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the development would support Kerian's transition from an agriculture-based economy towards higher-value industries.
He said KIC and the Kerian Integrated Green Industrial Park (KIGIP) would play complementary roles in developing a more integrated industrial ecosystem.
The projects are expected to create employment, skills development and business opportunities for local enterprises, in line with the Perak Sejahtera 2030 development agenda.
Meanwhile, Perak State Development Corporation (PKNPk) chief executive Datuk Redza Rafiq Abdul Razak said KIC's proximity to educational institutions would provide opportunities for collaboration in talent development and applied research.
“We want KIC’s success to bring tangible benefits by creating job opportunities that enable Perak’s young people to build their careers and secure a better future in their home state.
“Through strategic collaboration between industry players and educational institutions, we can realize this potential, in line with the aspirations of Perak Sejahtera 2030,” he said.
KIC is located about six kilometres from Universiti Sains Malaysia's Engineering Campus, 9.3km from PERDA Higher Skills Institute and 15.6km from Kerian Vocational College.
He said collaboration between industry players and educational institutions could help create career opportunities for young people in Perak.
Meanwhile, Asia Bina Group managing director Datuk Yong Chai Seng said the development should also provide opportunities for local vendors, suppliers and contractors to participate in the industrial supply chain.
Separately, the Public Works Department (JKR) is planning a new road alignment connecting the Bandar Baharu toll exit directly to KIGIP, which is also expected to improve access to KIC and surrounding industrial areas.
However, the final alignment and implementation schedule remain subject to review and approval by the relevant authorities.
KIC forms part of Perak's broader industrial development plans, alongside the Automotive High Technology Valley, Lumut Maritime Industrial City, Silver Valley Technology Park and KIGIP.
