InvestKL chief welcomes pro-business initiatives
Invest KL CEO
says the 2017 Budget initiatives will strengthen the business ecosystem KUALA LUMPUR: The 2017 Budget will have a direct and positive impact on investment in the country as it is packed with pro-business initiatives, said InvestKL Corp’s chief executive officer Datuk Zainal Amanshah yesterday.
“We are very pleased to see probusiness initiatives in the 2017 Budget that will strengthen our ecosystem, namely innovationled activities, broadband, infrastructure development and small and medium enterprises,” he said.
The initiatives would continue to promote Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia as a pivot to Asean and have a multiplier effect on the economy as a whole.
MIDA will be allocated a fund of RM522 million and among the industries that will be given emphasis are the chemicals industry, the electric & electronics (E&E) industry and R&D activities, while RM162 million allocated to MDeC to implement programmes such as ecommerce ecosystems and the digital maker movement, as well as the introduction of a new location category known as the Malaysia Digital Hub.
On talent, Zainal said, the RM7.4 billion higher education funds for 20 public universities and RM4.6 billion to Technical Vocational Education and Training and institutions to produce a local workforce that meets the various industry requirements and ensure a steady pool of talent into the ecosystem.
On infrastructure development, he said, the initiative will enhance KL’s proposition of great livability and connectivity.
Among infrastructure projects planned or are being implemented include the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail project (RM34.8 billion), Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit and Light Rail Transit 3 projects (RM36 billion and RM9 billion respectively). Bernama