KUANTAN: The Pahang government aims to replicate the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park's (MCKIP) success story in Gebeng by setting up similar facilities in other parts of the state.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said new industrial parks will be set up in the state capital and other districts. These facilities will benefit from a new transport network which will be completed in the next few years.
"MCKIP is the first National Industrial Park in Malaysia which has attracted more than 50 international companies and created more than 10,000 jobs for locals. MCKIP, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, has had a huge impact with a total investment fetching almost RM30 billion.
"Till last year, Pahang attracted RM11.01 billion in foreign direct investments (FDI) with RM5.6 billion from China. Alliance Steel (M) Sdn Bhd, which is a subsidiary of Guangxi Beibu Gulf Iron and Steel Co Ltd, is the largest contributor of FDI. Both MCKIP and China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park in Qinzhou, China are successful industrial park models which attract investors from various sectors.
"We will continue to provide the necessary facilities and remain investor-friendly, hoping to attract more businesses into Pahang and other parts of the state including Lipis. We will consider various benefits including income tax incentives," he told reporters after attending MCKIP's 10th anniversary celebration and the 'Year of Investing in China" programme here today.
Wan Rosdy said the Pahang government will ensure a win–win situation when attracting investors into the state and the location of the industrial parks will be decided based on suitability.
"We do not want to burden investors. When there are restrictions, investors might move elsewhere. Being investors, they certainly have the choice to stay or leave, so it lies in our hands on how we will persuade them to come and remain here," he said.
Meanwhile, Wan Rosdy said the expansion works on MCKIP Phase Two and Three were progressing smoothly whereby the third phase will connect the Kuantan Port and the East Coast Rail Link.
Earlier, Wan Rosdy witnessed the signing of two memorandums of understanding and five memorandums of agreement between Pahang State Secretary Incorporated, and several companies from China in various sectors including renewable energy, silica and aluminum
Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook, China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Communist Party Secretary Liu Ning and Chinese ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing were present at the event.