ALOR STAR: The Kedah government is confident with the prospect of attracting at least RM10 billion investment annually in the coming years as the state strives to position itself as a new industrial powerhouse.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said besides Kulim Hi-Tech Park (KHTP), investments inflow were also coming into new industrial parks being developed in the state.
"Under the Kedah State Development Plan 2035, we have set a target to attract RM10 billion annual investment but much to everyone surprise, we have recorded RM68.3 billion investment last year.
"Of course it is not going to be easy to repeat it this year, but we are confident to achieve at least RM10 billion investment this year and the following years to come," he told reporters after the opening of the Kedah Assembly here today.
Sanusi said KHTP remained as the premier investment destination in Kedah with the expansion of Phase 4A, followed by the opening of Phase 5 soon.
"The Phase 4A of KHTP is being developed using internal funding of the Kulim Technology Park Corporation (KTPC) and we are also in the midst of rolling out Phase 5 to be funded by the federal government.
"KTPC are currently negotiating with existing tenants in KHTP who are expanding their operation there besides having talks with new investors for both phases," he said.
Besides KHTP, Sanusi said the state government investment arm — Kedah Invest — was also having discussions with potential investors to develop a new 400ha industrial area in Gurun.
"We even see progress in the Special Border Economic Zone in Bukit Kayu Hitam, which are spearheaded by Northern Gateway Sdn Bhd and the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) to develop Kedah Science and Technology Park and recently, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has launched Kedah Rubber City (in Padang Terap).
"All these projects will place Kedah on the right track to emerge as an industrial state after being known as an agricultural state," he said.
As such, Sanusi said the state had embarked on initiatives to prepare skilled workers to fill up jobs that would be created from these investments.
Earlier, in his opening speech at the State Assembly, the Sultan of Kedah, Sultan Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah lauded Kedah's achievement in attracting RM68.3 billion investment last year despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
The ruler congratulated all agencies concerned comprising the state government, KTPC, Invest Kedah, the Malaysian Indistrial Development Authority (MDA) and industry players for their roles in achieving the historical annual investment value for the state.
However, Sultan Al Aminul Karim called on the state government to intensify efforts in drawing new investments into Kedah Rubber City, the Special Border Economic Zone Bukit Kayu Hitam, Gurun Idustrial Area and Kedah Aerotropolis.
He expressed his hope that the investments would help to improve the people's living quality and be part of other developed states in the country.