PUTRAJAYA: The talent ecosystem, supply chain and facilities at the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) will see further improvements to attract more investments into the area, says the Prime Minister.
Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (pic) said the federal and respective state governments would work to boost the economic region’s competitiveness and to close 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 yesterday.
The Prime Minister 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 a human resources development fund was being planned to boost public sector participation in the area’s socioeconomic strategic programmes.
The meeting agreed that a conference involving all corridor authorities be held to discuss best practices and to present their achievements.
“The role of all economic corridors is crucial for 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 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.
