KUALA TERENGGANU: A RM170 million industrial fishing village on a 8.8ha plot of land will be developed at Kampung Seberang Pak Abu, Seberang Takir next year.
Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman said the project would generate additional income for the fishermen and state, while providing supplementary jobs for their families.
“At least 500 new jobs will be created once the project takes off. At the same time, it will upgrade the socio-economy of the people and the state under the Terengganu New Transformation Programme.
“The project will involve new fish-paste processing factories that can supply material for the traditional keropok and lekor industries which are in danger of fading out.
“It will operate in a hygienic environment as compared with the current trend of having to process raw fish-paste at the backyard of their homes,’ he said.
Razif added the state government had already allocated RM10 million for the design and start-up work to have the facilities in place.
He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had approved the project as it was part of the Budget 2016 plan to assist rural folk and fishermen prosper.
“We expect the project to go full swing once the additional allocation is obtained from the federal government,” said Razif.
He added that Universiti Malaysia Terengganu had been chosen to act as the project consultant to carry out research and development for the overall development of the fishermen population in the state.