PM unveils plan to develop Northern Corridor Economic Region
PANGKOR: Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin yesterday unveiled the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) Strategic Development Plan (SDP) 2021-2025 with a forecasted cumulative investment of up to RM146.5 billion.
Plans and strategies to mitigate the socio-economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic were laid out at the 23rd Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) Council Meeting that Muhyiddin chaired at the AVI Beach Resort here yesterday.
Present were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Perak Menteri Besar
Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azlan Man.
NCIA said the SDP’s aim was to help the NCER’s economy grow by RM300 billion by 2025, but the target had to be protracted by two years due to the pandemic.
“However, up to July this year, NCIA has already achieved RM115.9 billion in cumulative realised investments and over 140,000 jobs have been created in the NCER. Through the initiatives outlined in the SDP, the NCER is projected to create more than 160,000 new jobs and over 42,000 entrepreneurs, while the cumulative investment is forecast to grow to RM146.5 billion.
“SDP is a dynamic and strategic framework that incorporates the actual situation on the ground of the NCER states of Perak, Kedah, Penang and Perlis to mitigate the socio-economic impact of the pandemic.”
At the event, Muhyiddin presented the SDP book to Ahmad Faizal, Sanusi, Chow and Azlan as a guide to map out economic development plans for each state.
NCIA said strategic projects, high-impact investments and human capital programmes were designed to address the immediate needs of the people, businesses and industries to narrow the rural-urban development gap.
“The SDP is aligned with the government’s aspirations and will be vital in supporting and accelerating the revival of the region’s economy through the implementation of strategic projects and human capital programmes to create and retain jobs for the rakyat.
“Ongoing Human Capital Programmes, specifically empowerNCER, entrepreneurNCER, NCER Talent Enhancement Programme and Dana Usahawan Bumiputera, have been enhanced to focus on target groups affected by the pandemic, especially the B40 category, by providing opportunities for job placement or entrepreneurship, which to date, have benefited over 15,500 participants.”
It said to counter the effects of the pandemic, NCIA customised two fast-track programmes, Jom Kerja@NCER and JomNiaga@ NCER, anchored on reskilling and upskilling, followed by soft skills training to enable immediate marketability of job seekers and competitiveness of micro-businesses.
“Over 8,000 participants are expected to benefit from these fast-track programmes. NCIA has swiftly mobilised its post-Covid plans as outlined in the SDP. Efforts are already under way to create jobs and boost economic activities in the NCER.
Muhyiddin, during his one-day visit to the island, met several NCIA entrepreneurs to get more information on their businesses.