“The Federal Government through ECERDC has been working closely with the state government to implement various projects and human capital development programmes to spur the socio-economic growth in Kelantan.
“Private investments and ongoing developments in Kelantan have shown positive impact for the rakyat by creating more than 22,860 jobs and 6,360 entrepreneurial opportunities,” said ECERDC Chief Executive Officer Datuk Seri Jebasingam Issace John in a statement after the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) Implementation and Coordination Committee (ICC) Kelantan meeting here today.
The ICC meeting was chaired by Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob.
One of the key high-impact projects included the construction of the Plaza IMT-GT (Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle) in Bukit Bunga, expected to commence operations in November.
Strategically located along the borders of Rantau Panjang-Sungai Golok and Pengkalan Kubor-Tak Bai, the project was anticipated to further boost cross-border trade, tourism and commercial industrial development in the area.
The Plaza would provide close to 100 local entrepreneurs the opportunity to promote and market their products, including to foreign buyers, from neighbouring country, Thailand.
Meanwhile, Kampung Laut, a village in Sungai Kelantan, Tumpat, was set to undergo development as a “Kampung Warisan” beginning February 2018.
The effort, part of ECERDC’s overall strategy to boost and strengthen the tourism sector in the region, would open up greater entrepreneurial opportunities for the villagers, as more tourists are expected to visit the area in search for Kampung Laut’s unique handicraft and delicacies, such as wau, batik, serunding and dodol.
Expected to be fully completed by 2020, the project would benefit more than 30 entrepreneurs in the area.
Between 2007 and September 2017, Kelantan successfully secured RM12.7 billion in domestic and foreign investments, driven mainly by the manufacturing sector which contributed 56.8 per cent, followed by the logistics sector (16.5 per cent) and real estate (12.7 per cent).
Jebasingam said private investment was expected to grow further, leveraging on Kelantan’s potential as a regional halal hub.
The Pasir Mas Halal Park (PMHP), one of the key industrial parks established by ECERDC, has recorded encouraging response from investors with phase one fully taken up.
At present, work has already begun on phase two to accommodate growing demand.
PMHP was expected to attract RM611 million in private investment and create more than 4,200 job opportunities by 2020.
Among other completed projects included the Tok Bali Integrated Fisheries Park in Pasir Puteh, as well as, the Collection, Processing and Packaging Centre in Pengkalan Kubor — both of which are key in developing Kelantan as the hub for fish and marine-based activities.
Bumiputera entrepreneurs, who have contributed 36 per cent of the state’s total investments to date, were another key contributor to employment and entrepreneurial opportunities in Kelantan.
Between 2012 and September 2017, a total of 45 Bumiputera companies, worth RM4.6 billion, have received incentives from either ECERDC or TERAJU@ECER or both, which in turn would create 6,044 potential jobs.
Meanwhile, the Dana Mudahcara TERAJU@ECER approved RM87.3 million to 35 recipients in the state, involving investments of up to RM728.1 million, thus cementing the positive impact brought about by Bumiputera entrepreneurs to Kelantan’s economic growth.
“The Federal Government’s focus on enhancing connectivity is expected to boost investment opportunities in the state.
“The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), which has begun construction in Tunjong, will act as a game-changer to the socio-economic landscape of Kelantan as will it open up new growth centres, as well as, create new jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities for the locals,” he said.
This 600km project, connecting key industrial development areas including Tok Bali, Jelawat, Kota Bharu and Wakaf Bharu in Kelantan, would enhance market competitiveness for businesses and open more career opportunities for the people of Kelantan.
“We are working towards reviewing our current strategy for the ECER including Kelantan which will be unveiled soon. We strongly believe Kelantan is well placed to further propel its socio-economic growth as the state is strategically positioned for cross-border trade, supported by the growing tourism, logistics and trade facilitation sectors,” Jebasingam added.
Source: Bernama | 29 October 2017
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