PUTRAJAYA: The talent ecosystem, supply chain and facilities at the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) will see further improvement to attract more investment into the area, says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
The Prime Minister said the Federal and respective state governments would work towards boosting the economic region's competitiveness and to close any gaps caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said that a total of RM17.25bil worth of investments had been approved for NCER between January and July this year.
"The investments will create 12,315 new job opportunities for Malaysians," he said in a statement after chairing the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) meeting on Thursday (Aug 18).
He said that one of the investments came from Qatar's Baldana Food Industries.
The RM2.1bil investment is to develop an integrated dairy farm project in Chuping, Perlis to support the national food security agenda.
"This is a testament of investors' confidence in Malaysia's economy as well as the talent development ecosystem in NCER," he said.
Ismail Sabri said that a human resources development fund is being planned to boost public sector's participation in the area's socioeconomic strategic programmes.
The meeting agreed that a conference involving all NCER authorities should be held to discuss best practices and present their achievements.
"The role of all economic corridors are crucial towards the country's economic development and sustainability," he added.
Present at the meeting were Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, Perlis Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azlan Man, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, Kedah exco member Datuk Ku Abdul Rahman Ku Ismail, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali.
