IPOH: The Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) recorded realised investments amounting to RM4.6 billion in Perak from January to September this year, creating 3,867 new job opportunities.
Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) chief executive Datuk Mohamad Haris Kader Sultan said the achievement demonstrated investors' continued confidence in the state's economic potential and the effectiveness of cooperation between the Federal Government, the Perak state government and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority.
"This achievement reflects the continued confidence of investors in Perak and the effectiveness of the collective efforts of all parties in driving economic development that can generate quality job opportunities and enhance the well-being of the people," he said in a statement.
He said the investment growth was driven by the manufacturing, automotive, digital economy, food processing and tourism sectors, which remain among the main drivers of the state's economic development.
According to him, the achievement is in line with the aspirations of the Thirteenth Malaysia Plan, the Perak Sejahtera 2030 Plan and the MADANI Economic agenda, which emphasises high-value economic development, industrial transformation and the creation of quality jobs.
"Through the NCER Strategic Development Plan 2026-2030, Perak is targeted to achieve a gross domestic product of RM119.6 billion and cumulative realised investment of RM58.8 billion by 2030.
"The plan also aims to create more than 46,000 cumulative job opportunities and increase the median household income to RM6,700," he said.
He added that among the strategic projects being driven in Perak is the strengthening of the Automotive High-Tech Valley in Tanjung Malim to enhance the national automotive ecosystem and stimulate high-value-added industrial activities.
NCIA also facilitated the development of QL InnoFood Park in Hutan Melintang to boost the food processing industry and strengthen the country's food security, in addition to the development of Bagan Datuk International Fishery Industrial Park to advance the modern fisheries sector through high-value downstream activities.
Efforts to accelerate the development of the state's digital economy are further strengthened through the development of strategic digital infrastructure that has the potential to attract technology investments and enhance Perak's competitiveness in the digital economy.
In the tourism sector, planned strategic projects include the Northern Pangkor Transformation, the Royal Belum Border Catalyst Project and the development of tourism infrastructure at the Lenggong Valley Archaeological Heritage site. - Bernama
