9/20/2012 — Bernama
NANNING (China), Sept 20 (Bernama) — The Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park (MCKIP) in Gebeng, Kuantan, Pahang is making rapid headway on the ground as it gears up for domestic and international
investors.
East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) Chief Executive Officer Datuk Jebasingam Issace John said the project has received many enquiries from big corporations in China and Japan, among others.
“Groundworks have already commenced (at the park) since the first week of September,” he said here on Wednesday, adding the groundbreaking ceremony is expected to take place at the end of October.
Issace is here leading a 10-member ECERDC delegation to promote MCKIP at the China-Asean Expo (CAEXPO), which is also being attended by senior Pahang state government officials.
The MCKIP, the first industrial park in Malaysia to be developed jointly by Malaysia and China, is a government-to-government initiative to reciprocate the China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on April 1.
Industries targeted for MCKIP will be involved in the manufacture of equipment for plastics and metal, automotive components, fibre cement board, stainless steel products, food processing, carbon fibre, electric
and electronics products, information and communications technology (ICT) and consumer products.
The 607ha. MCKIP site is strategically located in Kuantan, which has a port facing the South China Sea, the most direct link to the deepwater Qinzhou port and others in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.
Shipping time between Kuantan and Qinzhou is three days. Issace said the Pahang state government has been very supportive of the project and has set up a task force to fast track its implementation.
The park will be developed in phases, with the entire project due for completion by 2020, he said, adding it would comprise large- and medium-size industrial lots including those for small and medium entreprises (SMEs), and commercial and residential developments.
“We want to have big companies and SMEs, not only investors from China, but also Asean and worldwide investors and also domestic investors,” he said.
The CAEXPO, now in its ninth edition with 3,400 booths, begins today at the Nanning International Exhibition and Convention Centre. Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) Chief Executive Officer Dr Wong Lai Sum said she expects very good response to Malaysian products and services, including in green technology and education.
Matrade targets a 20 per cent rise in sales this year compared to RM201 million last year from 136 Malysia exporters and five industry clusters.
Some 800 meetings and business matching sessions, including with businesses from Russia, the European Union and other Chinese provinces, will be held to promote Malaysia’s products and services.
Speaking to the media, Wong said with the growing demand for Malaysian products, Matrade will focus on promoting exporters who demonstrate high potential.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is scheduled to open the Malaysia Pavilion today and witness the signing of two memorandums of understanding — between Duria Manufacturing Sdn Bhd and Guang
Zhou Shimao Import, and between Asean Metropolitan University and Guangxi Medical University.
