NCER To Push Up Kedah's Agriculture, Industrial, Tourism Sec

obmar

July 16, 2007 16:44 PM

NCER To Push Up Kedah's Agriculture, Industrial, Tourism Sectors

ALOR STAR, July 16 (Bernama) -- The Kedah state government is confident that the well planned North Corridor Economic Region (NCER) programme, due for launch end of this month, will bring significant transformation to the state's agricultural, industrial and tourism sectors.

Menteri Besar Kedah Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said that under the NCER, the three sectors have been identified for development in the state.

"Kedah is already developing the three sectors at the moment but with the NCER, a greater push will be given to the sectors which will benefit the people and the state," he told a press conference here Monday to announce the upcoming NCER programme.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is due to launch the NCER plan during his visit to Kedah this July 30.

Sime Darby Bhd will be the lead agency for the implementation of the NCER which will cover the planned development of the four northern states of Perak, Penang, Kedah and Perlis.

The NCER was marked in the Ninth Malaysia Plan (2006-2010) to promote a fair and balanced economic development for the nation.

Mahdzir said the agriculture sector's development will focus on padi cultivation, livestock and acquaculture.

For the padi sector, the entire areas under the Muda Agricultural Development Authority will be given a boost in terms of infrastructure starting from water reservoirs to the irrigation systems.

Apart from that, small time individual padi harvesting would be transformed to more commercial methods with the concept of padi estates.

In the industrial sector, three existing industrial areas namely Gurun, Sungai Petani and Kulim will continue to be strengthened while downstream industries will be created to further boost the sector's development.

The Menteri Besar said a new industrial park will be also created at the Kulim High Technology Park (KHTP) which currently hosts hundreds of well known companies from all over the world.

He said the new park will provide support to the KHTP.

"In the tourism sector, Langkawi will continue as a main tourism destination and at the same time efforts will be taken to attract tourists to the mainland of Kedah. Lembah Bujang, Ulu Muda and Sedim," he added.

-- BERNAMA

obmar

NCER Will Also Benefit Southern Thailand, Sumatra - Koh

PENANG, July 27 (Bernama) -- The concept and development of the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) will also bring benefits to southern Thailand and Sumatra in Indonesia, Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said tonight.

The spillover effects of the economic momentum to be generated by NCER, which encompasses Kedah, Perlis, Penang and Perak, are bound to be felt in both neighbouring regions within a short period, he added.

Addressing the 62nd anniversary dinner of the Penang Importers and Exporters Association here, he raised the possibility that the positive economic impact could even help stabilise the political situation in southern Thailand.

According to Dr Koh, the NCER will turn Penang into a vital logistics hub besides becoming a major import-export centre for the northern region as the industrial sector steps up its pace.

"About 40 million people in the NCER, southern Thailand and Sumatra will benefit from the intensive economic development over five to 10 years after the NCER is implemented," he added.

In view of this, he urged the business community in Penang to fully support the NCER and work together to reap the prosperity that the NCER promises.

-- BERNAMA

obmar

The Inquisitor

obmar,

Isn't that one of the main areas affected by the tsunami in 2004??

I hope they are very cognizant of that fact going forward.

obmar

slightly at the coast.

but NCER is big.

obmar

http://www.theedgedaily.com/cms/c...85fe41-cb73c03a-1248f2b0-598150de

30-07-2007: Malaysia sees RM177b investment in Northern Corridor

Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com

ALOR SETAR: Malaysia expects investment of RM177 billion in the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) to develop four northern states, the Prime Minister said on July 30.

"The government is finalising various incentive packages and they will be announced soon," Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said at the launch.

"Several programmes that have been identified in the initial phase are estimated to involve additional costs of RM5 billion," he said, referring to costs in addition to the existing state development plan, the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

Highlights of the NCER

About RM177 billion of public and private sector investments are expected to flow into the NCER from 2007 to 2025, involving programmes and projects to enhance human capital, infrastructure, innovation and competitiveness in the region;

* Of the total sum, one-third is expected to be spent by the government, while the balance will be undertaken through Private Finance Initiatives (PFI) and private-sector investment.

* The NCER programme is a government initiative to accelerate economic growth and elevate income levels in the north of Peninsular Malaysia, covering Perlis, Kedah, Penang and northern Perak;

* Its key thrusts are to transform and expand the agricultural, manufacturing, tourism and logistics sectors in the region;

* Sime Darby Bhd led in preparing the groundwork for the comprehensive development blueprint, which will span from 2007 to the end of the 12th Malaysia Plan period, i.e, 2025;

* Under the plan, a dedicated implementation organisation will be set up to coordinate and drive the implementation of the NCER initiative;

* It is envisaged that that NCER will become a modern food zone for Malaysia, helping the country to increase its efficiency in food production;

* A phased approach will be adopted to achieve the objective of increased agricultural growth and improved rural incomes, starting with courting anchor investors (2007-2012), accelerating regional growth (2013-2020) and establishing global leadership (2021-2025);

* By 2012, it targets to increase agricultural exports from RM32 billion to RM48 billion;paddy yields from 4 tonnes per hectare to 8 tonnes per hectare; average profit per hectare of cultivated land (excluding oil palm) to RM10,000 per hectare per annum; and the amount of agricultural land utilised from around 800,000 hectares to one million hectares;

* The NCER is envisioned as the high-tech electronics hub of the region, expanding from the currently predominant assembly and test activities to higher value-add activities including wafer fabrication, chip design, automation design and materials or packaging R&D.

* By 2012, it targets to increase investment in NCER's manufacturing sector from RM16.5 billion in 2006 to RM24.3 billion; increase the%age of the manufacturing sector workforce involved in high value-add activities to 30%; and increasing value-add as a%age of manufacturing output to 30%;

* Key tourism assets such as Langkawi and Penang will be enhanced to attract higher-yielding tourists, thereby increasing per capita tourist spending and the size of the tourism industry in the region;

* NCER targets to increase average spending per visitor from the current base of RM1,890 to RM3,034 by 2012, and to increase tourist receipts from RM9 billion to RM21 billion over the same period;

* Due to the focus on medical tourism, it is targeted that annual expenditure on medical tourism will exceed RM350 million by 2012;

* For the logistics services, it proposes that the NCER leverage on its strategic position within the IMT-GT and adjacent to the Eastern Corridor;

* To improve infrastructure, the Butterworth-Kulim-Grik-Jeli-Kota Baharu roads will be widened, a monorail connecting Seberang Prai, Kulim, Sungai Petani and an inland commercial depot in Padang Besar will be built, while the Penang International Airport as well as Butterworth Container Port will be expanded;

* Penang and Langkawi airports will be promoted as hubs for budget carriers and small jets and the proposed double tracking project between Ipoh and Bukit Kayu Hitam will be implemented;

* There will also be an expansion of regional and international air links to bring more visitors to NCER and coastal vessel fleets, ferry services or tie-ups with regional ports in Sumatra, Phuket and Myanmar;

* In human capital development, vocational training for younger age groups will also be carried out with programmes targeting unemployed youths aged 15 and above, including graduates, with training programmes focused on matching supply with the demands of skills;

* An "Adopt a School" programme will be launched with the private sector initiatives, and the NCER implementation organisation will identify the number of disadvantaged schools in the region for the project;

* The implementation of the programmes under the NCER initiative targets to increase the region's real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 306% from RM52.7 billion in 2005 to RM214.1 billion in 2025. This would correspondingly increase real GDP per capita from RM8,988 per annum in 2005 to RM24,582 in 2025;

* Employment in the region is forecast to increase from 2.43 million in 2005 to 4 million in 2025. - Agencies