PADANG BESAR: The development of Perlis Inland Port (PIP) will spur the growth of Malaysia-Thailand cross border trade, as both nations strive to achieve RM126 billion in bilateral trade by 2025.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said being strategically located near the Malaysia-Thai border, Perlis was well positioned to reap the economic and trade benefits of cross-border businesses between the neighbouring countries.
"Malaysia and Thailand have agreed to set a target to achieve USD30 billion (RM126 billion) bilateral trade by 2025. Perlis is well positioned geographically near the Malaysia-Thai border and has the advantage to reap various economic and business opportunities in cross border trade.
"The development of PIP is timely to accelerate trade with Thailand and at the same time create added value to strategic projects in the Northern Corridor Economic Region namely the Chuping Valley Industrial Area (CVIA), Chuping Agro Valley (CAV), NCER Agribio Economic Zone (NAEZ) and Perlis Super Fruits Valley," Ismail Sabri said in his speech at the launching of PIP and Bonder Road in Chuping here today.
Ismail Sabri also announced that Malaysia-Thailand trade value has reached nearly RM100 billion (USD$23.64 billion) with RM44 billion (USD$23.64 billion) contributed by border trade activities.
Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail launched the RM1.2 billion project located in CVIA, undertaken via a public-private partnership.
Present were Raja Muda of Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail.
Also present were Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Datuk Seri Zuki Ali, Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azlan Man, Perlis State Legislative Assembly speaker Datuk Hamdan Bahari, Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) chief executive Mohammad Haris Kader Sultan and Mutiara Perlis Sdn Bhd (MPSB) chairman Datuk Shabaruddin Ibrahim.
Ismail Sabri added that the federal government was committed in ensuring the success of national high impact strategic projects such as PIP and this was reflected by a RM340 million allocation approved for the project under the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK12).
The allocation was for the development of three supplementary infrastructures namely a spur line, a flyover and a bonded road.
"This is the federal government's commitment to accelerate the cross-region and cross-state development, as well as urban, rural and border development in achieving balanced and inclusive development, in line with RMK12 masterplan," he said.
He added that with the launching of PIP, CVIA was slated to transform Perlis and the NCER economy through investment growth and by creating jobs, while reducing migration of locals.
Ismail Sabri said to date, CVIA has attracted RM4.5 billion investments which would create 12,000 jobs.
He added that strategic high impact projects such as PIP and CVIA were a boon to transform Perlis from an agriculture-based economy to a modern industrialised one.
"As such, NCIA will continue to upgrade the integrated transportation link system with holistic transportation and logistics infrastructure, enabling PIP to enhance its appeal to potential investors," he said.
Ismail Sabri said Perlis was on a post-pandemic economic growth trajectory with the trade value through the state recorded at RM7.9 billion between Jan and Dec 2021, as compared to RM5.4 billion achieved in 2020. - NST
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