Malacca benefiting from close ties with Guangdong

MALACCA: The historical state of Malacca is now reaping the fruits of its close ties with China’s southern Guangdong province.

Malacca’s cooperative relationship with Guangdong since 2015 has so far led to direct flights, the RM30bil Melaka Gateway project and a RM1.5bil glass manufacturing plant among others, said chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron.

“Melaka Gateway is recognised as a national project that will bring a strong economic impact to Malacca and Malaysia.

“Comprising three reclaimed islands, this project will become a world class centre for integrated tourism, financial, commercial, port and maritime industry activities,” Idris said at the opening ceremony of the 8th World Chinese Economic Summit (WCES) here Thursday.

A fourth island with a maritime industrial park will be jointly developed by Kaj Development Sdn Bhd, the Guangdong state government and the Chief Minister Incorporated, he added.

Idris said the governments of Malacca and Guangdong had agreed to focus on developing the Malacca-Guangdong Industrial Park at Lipat Kajang in Jasin and set up a one-stop centre to showcase Malacca culture and heritage and “Made in Malaysia excellence products” in Zhuhai.

At the welcoming dinner on Tuesday night, Idris said that as of August this year, Chinese tourist arrivals to Malacca was recorded at 908,421, surpassing last year’s total of 879,050.

He said a deep-sea port, which will be part of the Melaka Gateway project, would be undertaken by Kaj Development Sdn Bhd and Powerchina International Group Ltd.

Joining Powerchina International are two Chinese port operators - Shenzhen Yantian Port Group Co Ltd and Rizhao Port Group Co Ltd.

Former Taiwan president Ma Ying-jeou, in his keynote address at the 8th WCES, said Taiwan was eager to take part in multilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific.