MP13 To Strengthen Perlis, Kedah As Major Cross-border Trade Hubs - NCIA

KANGAR, Aug 1 (Bernama) -- The 13th Malaysia Plan (MP13) is expected to reinforce Perlis and Kedah’s position as major industrial and logistics hubs linking cross-border trade between Malaysia and Thailand.

Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) chief executive Datuk Mohamad Haris Kader Sultan said the logistics infrastructure projects announced under MP13 are essential to improving efficiency, reducing business operating costs and attracting more investment in export-oriented manufacturing within the Northern Region.

“The Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) welcomes MP13’s focus on logistics infrastructure development at the Perlis Inland Port (PIP) and the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) complex in Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah,” he said in a statement to Bernama today.

Mohamad Haris said this focus aligns with MP13’s goal of strengthening the northern logistics corridor under the border development initiative through the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle, as well as boosting bilateral trade, particularly in high-technology products.

He added that NCER is currently developing external infrastructure to support the PIP project, including the construction of the Bonded Road and the Railway Spurline and viaduct, under Packages 1 and 2, respectively. 

“The construction of Package 1, spanning 6.5 kilometres, has been fully completed, while Package 2 is 93.6 percent finished,” he said. 

He added that the PIP’s location next to the Chuping Valley Industrial Area (CVIA) in Padang Besar would create strong industrial-logistics synergies.

“NCIA will continue working with the state government and relevant agencies to attract more high-quality investments to CVIA, in line with MP13’s goal of balancing regional economic growth and strengthening rural development,” he said.

Several infrastructure projects to strengthen cross-border connectivity and trade, including upgrades to the PIP and ICQS complex in Bukit Kayu Hitam, will proceed under MP13, which was unveiled yesterday by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

-- BERNAMA