KUALA LUMPUR: A high-profile delegation from Malaysia’s East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) will pull all the stops at the 9th China-Asean Expo in Nanning, China, to woo potential international investors, especially from China, to the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park (MCKIP).
Recognising the huge attraction of the show, which has been drawing increasing visitors and trade volume over the years since its inception in 2004, the ECERDC will set up a stand-alone booth to tout primarily the merits of MCKIP.
The expo, which upholds the objectives of promoting the China-Asean Free Trade Area and sharing opportunities for cooperation and development, will be held between Sept 21 and 25 at the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Nanning, the capital of South China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
Asean leaders expected to attend the trade fair include Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Myanmar President U Thein Sein.
ECERDC chief executive officer Datuk Jebasingam Issace John, who will lead a 10-member delegation to the trade show, was reported as saying that incentives for investors could come in the form of tax holidays of up to 10 years and competitive land pricing by the state government.
“The whole idea is that we want investors to have an effective cost of doing business at the early stage,” he said.
The MCKIP is a government-to-government initiative, announced to reciprocate the China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park. The 607 hectare MCKIP is located within ECER in Gebeng, Kuantan.
Industries targeted for establishment in the industrial park will, among others, be involved in the manufacture of equipment for plastic and metal, automotive components, fibre cement board, stainless steel products, food processing, carbon fibre, electric and electronics products, information communication technology (ICT) and consumer products.
The MCKIP will leverage on Kuantan’s strategic location as it 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.
Launched in 2007, the ECER covers the states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and the district of Mersing in Johor and is among several regional development corridors introduced in Malaysia to fuel economic development and boost growth.
Source: Bernama
