KOTA BAHARU, Nov 14 (Bernama) — Middle East investors are keen to invest in fish
processing in the East Coast Economic Region (ECER).
“They are keen on possible investments in the fisheries park in Tok Bali that include fish
processing activities such as fish cracker and nugget,” an official from Lembaga Kemajuan
Ikan Malaysia (LKIM) said in a statement released by ECER secretariat here Wednesday.
He said since the launch of ECER end-October, there had also been a lot of enquiries from
local investors as well.
“The response has been encouraging with active involvement from the relevant ministries and
departments,” he said.
He said the development would also enable bigger boats to dock at Tok Bali, thus allowing
more fish landings.
“The spillover effect of the development will also indirectly help boost boat repairing industry,”
he said.
Meanwhile, Kelantan Fisheries Department fisheries executive, Azizan Ahmad, said the fishing
community supported the project.
“It is the hope of the community that the development will be able to attract investments to
Tok Bali and boost economic activity,” he said.
Azizan was confident the development would help boost regional fishing trade between
neighbouring countries like Thailand and Vietnam.
“It will help to promote upstream fishing activities like food processing and attract more local
and foreign investors to Tok Bali,” he said.
The fisheries park will have a port, landing facilities, storage, processing and marketing of fish
as well as ancillary support facilities such as boat repair and engine maintenance workshops.
He said the park has the potential to serve as a major aggregation point for the fisheries
sector, including a large fish processing and trading base.
Azizan said the main thrust of the development involved an integrated fisheries park in Tok
Bali that comprises a 400-metre wharf, offshore fishing platform, industrial processing
facilities and commercial, business and logistics support infrastructure.
— BERNAMA