The Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to China Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting led a Malaysian delegation to Beijing for consultation with their Chinese counterparts on Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park (KIP) recently.
The meeting, co-chaired by Tan Sri Ong and Mr Lan Tianli, Vice Governor of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, covered topics of co-operation relating to the development of KIP and its progress.
Tan Sri Ong in his opening address said KIP was a twin park with China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park (QIP) to be developed jointly by Malaysia and China. The joint-venture project was proposed by Malaysia following the successful launch of the QIP.
Both sides agreed to uphold the Qinzhou spirit in that Qinzhou’s participation KIP was imperative and that development would be led by Malaysian leading conglomerates SP Setia Berhad and the Rimbunan Hijau Group.
“Without a doubt, KIP and QIP will be iconic joint-venture projects to raise bilateral co-operation and enhance relationship between Malaysia and China,” added Tan Sri Ong.
He thanked the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional Government for sending several huge delegations on study tours of Kuantan and also for their valuable suggestions on the development of KIP.
Tan Sri Ong conveyed Prime Minister Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak’s advices and expectations on the joint-venture projects, adding that before his departure to Beijing, Dato Seri Najib had emphasized that the Malaysian government would consider mutual benefits as a top priority in achieving a win-win situation.
The Prime Minister also pledged to create a business-friendly environment and would provide, based on feedbacks given by major developers, the necessary incentive packages to woo major Chinese investors to KIP while at the same time, it is hoped that the Chinese side would draw well-established enterprises to invest in the Kuantan park.
The Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional Government has been entrusted by the Chinese central government to co-ordinate Chinese participation in KIP’s development and they have made numerous suggestions as to its development.
Chinese leading investors who attended the meeting include Mr Ye Shixiang, Chairman of Guangxi Beibu Gulf International Port Group, Mr Liu Shusen, Director-General of the Department of Commerce of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Mr Zhang Xiaoqin, Party Secretary of Qinzhou Municipality.
They made valuable proposals on the development of KIP relating to the expansion of land area of the park, integrated development with the Kuantan Port, sharing of preparation works, overall planning and direction of KIP, related incentives and preferential policies, delivery of high-quality services as well as the organization structure of Malaysia-China Joint Investment Corporation.
The Malaysian representatives included Dato’ Jebasingam Issace John, CEO of East Coast Economic Region Development Council, Dato’ Hajah Mahadiah Haji Mohamad, Deputy State Secretary of Pahang State Government and Mr Wong Seng Foo, Senior Director of Ministry of International Trade and Industry.
They explained the overall planning of the KIP, land policy and preferential treatments，thus laying the foundation for the formation of the Malaysia-China Joint Investment Corporation.
Both the Chinese and Malaysian sides agreed that QIP and KIP will strive for a win-win situation to make them iconic innovative joint-venture projects, sharing information and complementing each other.
Tan Sri Ong in his winding-up said the Malaysian side would look up to the development of QIP and would go all-out to make KIP a new model to showcase the co-operation between Malaysia and China in the development of joint-venture industrial parks.
“We cannot be slacking. Under the leadership of S.P.Setia, initial development of KIP is progressing remarkably fast. Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Najib has given the instruction to prepare for the opening ceremony in the last quarter of January next year. Preparations are being made to invite the Chinese leader to jointly perform the launching ceremony.”
In order to meet the schedule, Tan Sri Ong has requested MITI, ECER and the Pahang state development corporation to continue their close co-operation with the Chinese side in order ensure that we would come up with even better planning and faster implementation for KIP to make it a shining example of co-operation between Malaysia and China.
