Stable investment climate in NCER
ECONOMIC CATALYSTS: More policy measures to support private consumption and domestic demands
THE overall investment climate in the four northern states of Perlis, Kedah, Penang and Perak is likely to be maintained, thanks to the implementation of infrastructure development projects and capital spending in the manufacturing and services sectors.
Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) chief executive Datuk Redza Rafiq said the total budget of RM2.1 billion announced in the 2017 Budget for all economic corridors including the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) for various projects, will result in greater connectivity, an enhanced business environment, reduced cost of doing business and further accelerate investments.
“This would in effect reduce the disparity in regional developments within the nation,” he said.
“Towards this end, NCIA will intensify efforts to continue developing NCIA chief executive
says agency to intensify efforts in developing growth nodes projects.
growth nodes projects such as the Chuping Valley, the Kedah Science and Technology Park and Kedah Rubber City, to serve as catalysts for the NCER and create more jobs and business opportunities,” said Redza.
“2017 Budget,” he noted, “sees more policy measures announced to support private consumption and domestic demands.
“The newly-tabled budget has stressed on managing wealth in an equitable manner, with focus on uplifting the quality of life of the “Bottom 40” (B40) group, and this will continue to be the focus of NCIA.
“Priority has been given to peoplecentric projects such as MySuria, as the government drives to raise the disposable income of the people and mitigate the rising cost of living.”
The MySuria started out as SuriaKU or the “Sunlight at Koridor Utara” initiative with the underlying concept of utilising renewable energy and green technology.
Its pilot programme was successfully implemented in Pauh, Perlis, and completed in November last year. Redza noted that the recentlyannounced nationwide rollout looks set to take things to the next level.
“The programme,” he added, “aims at improving the socio-economic standing of the lower income group (B40) and helps to position them into the middle class income bracket (M40) by generating income from tapping into solar energy sources.
“NCIA will lead the nationwide rollout project as well as act as an adviser to other economic corridors and states,” Redza said.