PUTRAJAYA, Aug 18 (Bernama) -- The Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) as of 31 July has secured RM17.25 billion in approved investments and created 12,315 new jobs supported by sustained growth in the E&E (electrical and electronic), M&E (mechanical and electrical) and Medical Devices sectors in the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER).
 
“These positive developments including the recent investment by FGV, Baladna Food Industries and Touch Group Holdings to develop an integrated dairy farm business in Chuping, Perlis to support the national food security agenda is testament to the confidence private investors have in the region’s economic and talent eco-system,” said YAB Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Prime Minister of Malaysia after chairing the second NCER Council Meeting for 2022 held in Putrajaya.
 
“Today the Council was updated on the progress of strategic projects and programmes implemented by NCIA. Council members and I are pleased with the achievements especially on job creation for Keluarga Malaysia. We are confident that the region is on the right trajectory to achieve its targets and continue to be a preferred investment destination,” added YAB Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri.
 
“To support the increasing industry requirements coming from these strategic investments, NCIA is focused on further strengthening the talent eco-system to ensure the integration with the industry’s supply chain to increase NCER’s comparative advantage and address any post-pandemic gap in the eco-system,” said Encik Mohamad Haris Kader Sultan, NCIA Chief Executive.
 
Supporting the call by the federal government to increase the participation of the private sector in strategic socioeconomic programmes, NCIA is developing the NCER Human Capital Development Fund (NCER HCDF) with the objective of stimulating private sector participation in NCER’s Human Capital Programmes (NCER HCP).
 
Kasih Ibu@NCER, JomNiaga@NCER, JomKerja@NCER, empower@NCER, entrepreneurNCER, and Dana Usahawan NCER are NCER’s rakyat-centric human capital programmes that have benefitted 92,493 recipients and business communities in the Northern Corridor Economic Region since 2019.
 
Through the NCER Dana Pembangunan Modal Insan (DPMI), a sustainable financial resource can be mobilised via government and private collaboration. NCER’s DPMI are implemented in a holistic and integrated manner and as such, will be aligned with other Government initiatives such as Jamin Kerja and Pembasmian Kemiskinan Tegar Keluarga Malaysia (BMTKM) programmes to improve social mobility amongst the vulnerable groups and accelerate socioeconomic recovery. 
 
The meeting agreed that NCER’s cost-of-living assistance initiative using cashless cards as well as NCER's skills and entrepreneurship programmes should be embedded in the BMTKM programme. Details of its implementation will be coordinated by the Economic Planning Unit (EPU), Prime Minister's Department.
 
“Through these various initiatives by NCIA supporting the rakyat, business communities and investors, coupled with strong economic fundamentals and robust eco-system, the region is on track to achieve and exceed its targets in terms of investments in-flow and job creation by the end of 2022,” concluded Encik Mohamad Haris.
 
NOTE TO EDITORS:

About NCIA
The Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) is a regional development authority responsible for establishing directions, devising policies and strategies related to the socioeconomic development of the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER). Incorporated in June 2008 under the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority Act 2008 (Act 687), NCER encompasses the four northern states of Kedah, Penang, Perak and Perlis in Peninsular Malaysia. NCIA’s Chief Executive is Mohamad Haris Kader Sultan.

NCIA drives the growth of NCER towards becoming an excellent economic region while catalysing and implementing high value-added development programmes in six (6) economic clusters: Manufacturing, Agribusiness, Petrochemical, Mining, Green Economy and Services (Inc. Tourism; Logistics and Connectivity; and Digital Economy).

Source: The Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA)

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--BERNAMA