Momentum stays strong
LENGGONG: Perak is on track to achieving the nine key agendas outlined in the Perak Sejahtera 2030 plan to drive the state's socioeconomic development.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said out of the 272 projects and initiatives in the plan — now entering the third year of implementation — 108 had been completed, 128 were being implemented and 36 in the pre-implementation stage.
"We have identified 127 projects to be included in the Perak Sejahtera 2030 Dashboard for monitoring," said Saarani when presenting the third-year progress report for the plan at Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi Mara here yesterday.
The Perak Sejahtera 2030 plan, launched on June 15, 2022, outlines nine key development agendas for the state.
They are Security, Digital Economy, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Malaysia TVET Corridor, Responsible Mining, Governance of State-Interest Projects, Social Development, Environmental and Biodiversity Sustainability and Empowerment of Local Authorities.
Saarani said a key focus of the state's current efforts was the development of five strategic growth nodes to serve as major economic drivers for Perak over the next decade.
"These five growth nodes are the Automotive High Tech Valley in Tanjong Malim, Lumut Maritime Industrial City in Manjung, Silver Valley Technology Park in Kanthan, Perak Halal Industrial Park in Lekir, and the Kerian Integrated Green Industrial Park in Kerian.
"Perak aims to shine in the field of responsible mining, while exploring three emerging economic sectors more broadly, which are the Blue Economy, the Green Economy and the Care Economy.
"That's why we want to strengthen the education sector, especially in the field of TVET, so that we can prepare our youth for the future job market."
Saarani added that several economic indicators showed that Perak had successfully recovered from the downturn caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
"We (Perak) were once on the brink of recession, recording a deficit of up to RM70 million. But we have bounced back with a surplus for three consecutive years, including RM64 million in 2023, the highest in our history.
"The declining unemployment rate and increasing labour force participation over the past three years, along with improving economic growth momentum, give us the confidence to realise the Perak Sejahtera 2030 plan," he added.
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