12/3/2008 — BERNAMA
The Plastic Cluster Industrial Park in this oil town can hasten the economic growth of the East Coast Economic Region (ECER), Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said today.
It can also help increase the people’s income and enhance the living quality of the people in Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu, he said.
He said the government would intensify efforts to expedite development of the projects, especially in providing basic infrastructure facilities, for investors.
Apart from various facilities and support provided, the government has also extended various incentive packages for potential investors,” he said when opening the Plastic Cluster Industrial Park.
To enjoy the incentives, Abdullah said the projects must obtain approval from the ECER Development Council and must start business operations before Dec 31, 2015.
The Plastic Cluster Industrial Park is expected to attract more than RM2 billion in private investments and provide more than 7,000 jobs to locals.
The investors’ commitment was encouraging despite the uncertainties plaguing the world market today, he added.
Present were Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, Kelantan senior state executive councillor Datuk Husam Musa, who represented Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Sidek Hassan.
Wire and cable manufacturer Hi-Essence Cable Sdn Bhd is investing RM85 million in the park, Latenfield Pipe Industries Sdn Bhd (RM40 million) and FMD Polypipes Industry Sdn Bhd will invest RM20 million to produce plastic pipes.
The park, located at the East Coast Economic Region, aims to woo investments in downstream activities in the plastic industries and to create the synergy for the Kertih Integrated Petrochemical Complex.
Abdullah said the park had the potential to stimulate the growth of the manufacturing, construction, composite and automotive sectors besides serving as a catalyst to bolster the growth of small-and medium-scale industries.
“I want to give an assurance the ECER is committed to ensure the continued development of the Plastic Cluster Industrial Park,” he added.