KUALA LUMPUR: The Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) has announced five initiatives for this year's Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) development plan, which is worth up to RM1 billion.
NCIA chief executive Datuk Redza Rafiq said the development of the initiatives will be focused on Wilayah Perak Selatan, Special Border Economic Zones in Bukit Kayu Hitam, Pulau Pangkor and the upgrading works of both Langkawi and Penang International Airport.
Wilayah Perak Selatan (WPS), he said, will include Bagan Datuk Watercity (BDWC), Next Generation (NexGen) Auto City, Perak Heavy Industries Park, and Tapah EduCity.
He said WPS also comprised of Proton City, EduCity and Youth City in Tanjung Malim.
For WPS, a Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) will be conducted to study public infrastructure and transportation, financial impact and projection, physical, economic and social development, while incorporating other development plans to ensure compliance with existing policies.
Redza said the BDWC, located at a new development in the Rungkup district of Bagan Datuk, is aimed at bringing together higher income residents, competitive business and a global lifestyle in southern Perak.
Land acquisition and preliminary works as well as relevant studies are underway as preparation is being made to establish a new engineered harbour city.
As for the NexGen Auto City, NCIA envisions it to be futuristic, applied auto research and commercialisation area that looks beyond the "bridging" hybrid era.
Redza said the Perak Heavy Industries Park will focus on integration production of various iron and steel products, while Tapah EduCity will place locally established or foreign sourced institutions to improve the quality of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
The Special Border Economic Zones in Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah comprises the Free Industrial Zone, Commercial Business District as well as Inland port and railway spur line, he said.
He added that this will also be for movement of raw materials from Thailand, thus creating value-added economic activities in the region.
The third initiative for NCER will be to transform Pulau Pangkor as a duty-free island and this will be officially declared via the Customs Act.
He said duty-free status in the island excludes products such as alcoholic beverages, tobacco and motor vehicles.
However, taxis, motorcycles and energy-efficient vehicles are being proposed as exceptions.
On the upgrading of the two international airports, the Langkawi's airport will be upgraded to accommodate 3 million passengers per annum from 1.5 million previously.
The airport will also become an international hub for AirAsia and have direct flights to Shenzhen and Guangzhou, China as well as Singapore.
As for the Penang International Airport, it will be upgraded from accommodating 6.5 million passengers per annum to 12 million.
Redza said these projects have already started but each development will have its own timeline depending on its magnitude.
"The initiatives will take time. It will be developed in phases and move on in stages. It is long-term in nature.
"For example, the Bukit Kayu Hitam initiative will be ongoing over the next few years as it involves many components.
"This is something similar to Cyberjaya, it has been 20 years already and we are only seeing it now," he said in a press conference at the NCIA media briefing.
He added that this will generate more job opportunities in the future.
Redza said NCIA will put in their best efforts to generate more investments this year.
He concuded that they will be able to achieve their target this year and put emphasis on their seven growth notes in four states.