KUALA LUMPUR: The Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) has attracted and approved RM17.25 billion in investments within the first seven months of this year.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the investments generated by the NCIA between Jan and July 31 led to the creation of 12,315 new employment opportunities in the country.
The figures, he said, included RM2.1 billion in investments by Qatar-based Baladna Food Industries to develop a dairy farm in Chuping, Perlis - an initiative that would also support the national food security agenda.
"The investment is supported by continuous growth in the electrical and electronic (E&E), mechanical and electrical (M&E) sectors as well as medical devices within the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER).
"All of these investments reflect the confidence from the private sector in the country's economy and the regional talent development ecosystem," he said in a statement.
He also announced that NCIA was embarking on a slew of inclusive initiatives, including developing the NCER Human Capital Development Fund.
The fund, he said, would be set up with the aim of getting greater participation among the private sector to ensure sustainability in human capital and entrepreneurship development programmes.
He said the federal administration was also working closely with state governments to ensure supply of water, electricity and communication in efforts to lure and increase confidence among investors in the NCER.
"NCIA together with the state governments will focus on strengthening the talent ecosystem as well as establishing a strong supply chain to enhance the competitiveness of the NCER post-pandemic," he said.