by SHAFIQQUL ALIFF / pic by MUHD AMIN NAHARUL

THE Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) said it has secured RM16 billion investments for 2021, with projected 19,652 job creations.

NCIA CEO Datuk Seri Jebasingam Issace John (picture) said the investments have proven the NCIA’s success in building a resilient ecosystem that will lead to recovery post-Covid-19, while providing social security nets for the people.

He further said this is a testament to investors’ confidence in the government’s ability to manage the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The investments received by NCIA in collaboration with government agencies are in line with the government’s efforts to successfully roll out the National Recovery Plan (NRP) announced by the prime minister (PM) on June 15,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Jebasingam also said another strategic project in the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) is the NCER Agriculture Economic Zone, in Chuping, Perlis, expected to generate an economic impact of RM2 billion and will create more than 2,000 new jobs by 2025.

The project is endorsed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries and its agencies, set to drive Malaysia’s advancement in the agro-food arena and ensure the nation’s food security.

“FGV Integrated Farming Holdings Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary FGV Holdings Bhd, is transforming Chuping to be a large-scale farming area for major agriculture activities.

“The project is set to unlock the full potential of almost 4,500ha of agriculture land in FGV Chuping Agro Valley through the development of an integrated high-value cash crop plantation and potential large-scale project by 2025,” he said.

Jebasingam added that these are signs that an economic rebound is set to take place soon.

Meanwhile, PM Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the encouraging investments show investors’ confidence in the country’s economic fundamentals despite the challenges of the pandemic.

Muhyiddin said the investment commitments and job opportunities created are a sign of the investor community’s confidence in the viability of Malaysia and the NCER states.

“Under the NRP announced on June 15, the government seeks to provide vaccines to as many members of the population as possible in Malaysia by the end of this year or earlier.

“Today, the investment commitments we see, God willing, will support and accelerate our recovery process.

“This will help revive the current pandemic situation, including business and economic activities, especially in the NCER,” said the PM.

The investments are also in line with the NCER Strategic Development Plan (SDP) 2021-2025. The SDP is anchored on the “Growth with Equity” vision of turning NCER to be a world-class economic region by 2025 and focusing on the socioeconomic recovery efforts for the people and business communities.