Latest news with #NCIA
The Sun
5 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Strategic plan to drive growth in northern border area
PUTRAJAYA: The federal government is targeting RM367.8 billion in investments and over 412,000 job opportunities through the Strategic Development Plan for the Northern Corridor Economic Region 2024-2030, said Economy Acting Minister Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan. He said the plan, to be carried out by the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA), aims to drive economic growth in the northern border region, particularly at the Bukit Kayu Hitam and Padang Terap districts in Kedah. Amir Hamzah said it focuses on three key sectors, namely advanced services, high-value manufacturing and modern agriculture, to support balanced regional development. 'These efforts reflect our commitment to nurturing local talent, spurring technological innovation and attracting quality private investments,' he said in a written parliamentary reply to Padang Terap MP Nurul Amin Hamid. He said several initiatives are already underway to stimulate economic activity in northern Kedah, including the Kedah Science and Technology Park in Bukit Kayu Hitam and the Kedah Rubber City in Padang Terap. Amir Hamzah said Malaysia is also leveraging on regional cooperation under the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle to explore cross-border economic opportunities in sectors such as halal industries, rubber processing, logistics and tourism. He said while there is growing interest in formalising border-based economic activity, no specific plans are currently in place to establish a 'Special Economic Zone' or 'Financial Free Zone' along the Malaysia-Thai border. 'We are open to exploring such proposals in the future should the need arise and if it promises mutual benefit.' He said a feasibility study is currently being conducted to assess the potential of Kedah for a dedicated economic zone, including evaluation of investment prospects, infrastructure integration and social linkages with southern Thailand.
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Malaysia enhancing cooperation with Thailand for trade, says Liew
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is enhancing strategic cooperation with the Thai government to facilitate smoother movement of goods through northern border checkpoints, says Liew Chin Tong. The Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister said the collaboration aims to support industries such as Kedah Rubber City (KRC), which require efficient logistics to meet export demands. 'MITI remains committed to strengthening strategic cooperation with the Thai government to facilitate the movement of goods across border checkpoints, including through the Durian Burung entry point,' he told the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (July 28). Responding to a question from Nurul Amin Hamid (Perikatan–Padang Terap), Liew said the initiative involves close coordination with various ministries and agencies, including the Finance and Home Ministries, Immigration Department, Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKSEM), and the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA). However, Liew said infrastructure at the ICQS Durian Burung Complex remains insufficient to support large-scale trade, particularly for container-based operations. To address this, he said the NCIA is spearheading several initiatives, including a feasibility study for a proposed Border Economic Zone to explore economic potential in the Durian Burung area and surrounding regions. He said other efforts include cooperation under the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) and the Joint Development Strategy (JDS), which focus on sectors such as halal, logistics, rubber, and tourism. 'The JDS specifically aims to enhance connectivity and trade policy coordination, which in turn strengthens the synergy between both countries,' he said. Liew added that both sides had agreed to improve trade facilitation, including infrastructure upgrades, logistics systems, and streamlined procedures at key border crossings. 'These measures are expected to expedite customs clearance and reduce costs and turnaround time for cross-border goods movement,' he said. While acknowledging proposals to utilise Thailand's Songkhla Port as an alternative export route, Liew said the government is prioritising domestic ports such as Penang and Kuala Perlis. 'This aligns with our broader strategy to enhance the competitiveness of local ports and ensure the economic benefits reach local communities and industry players,' he said. He added that his ministry is open to studying proposals and making recommendations to the Finance Ministry to introduce incentives that would encourage higher usage of local ports by investors, particularly those setting up export-oriented manufacturing facilities.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Govt working with Thai counterparts to facilitate goods movement
KUALA LUMPUR: The government remains committed to strengthening strategic cooperation with the Thai Government to facilitate the movement of goods across border checkpoints, including through the Durian Burung entry point in Kedah. Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) Minister Liew Chin Tong told the Dewan Rakyat that the government was working closely with Thai counterparts to ease goods movement across the northern border and to support export needs for industries such as Kedah Rubber City. "Miti remains committed to strengthening strategic cooperation with the Thai government to facilitate the movement of goods across border checkpoints, including through the Durian Burung entry point. "This effort requires close collaboration with relevant ministries and agencies, such as the Finance Ministry, Home Ministry, the Immigration Department, the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS), and the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA)," he said in response to a question from Nurul Amin Hamid (PN-Padang Terap). Liew, however, acknowledged that the infrastructure at the ICQS Durian Burung Complex was still inadequate to support large-scale trade operations, especially those involving the use of containers. He said the government, through NCIA, was implementing several strategic initiatives, including conducting a feasibility study for a Border Economic Zone to identify potential economic opportunities that could be developed in the border area, including the KRC and surrounding regions near Durian Burung. Other initiatives include regional cooperation under the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) and the Joint Development Strategy (JDS). "These collaborations focus on development in industries such as halal, logistics, rubber, and tourism. The JDS specifically aims to enhance connectivity and international trade policies, strengthening synergy between both countries. "In addition, the Malaysian government remains committed to enhancing strategic cooperation with Thailand through existing platforms such as the Malaysia-Thailand Joint Trade Committee," he said. He added that both parties had agreed to improve trade facilitation, including upgrading infrastructure, logistics systems, and procedures at border checkpoints. These steps, he said, were expected to accelerate Customs clearance processes while reducing time and costs for cross-border goods movement. "Although there have been suggestions to use Songkhla Port in Thailand as an alternative export route, the government is currently focused on maximising the use of domestic ports, especially in Penang and Kuala Perlis. "This initiative aligns with the government's broader strategy to enhance the competitiveness of local ports, while ensuring the economic benefits are fully realised by industry players and local communities," he said. Liew added that the ministry was also open to studying and proposing recommendations to the Finance Ministry to provide various incentives aimed at increasing the usage of local ports when asked on the ministry's short-term plans to encourage investors to use domestic ports for setting up factories or exporting products abroad.
The Star
20-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Grant for high-tech workers to further skills
GEORGE TOWN: Workers in the advanced technology sector can now benefit from a grant to further develop their skill at any learning institutions of their choice, says Human Resources Minister Steven Sim ( pic ). He said the matching grant was a collaboration of the Human Resource Development (HRD) Corporation and the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) under the Advanced Technology Meister Programme. 'Through the initiative, employers can jointly develop training programmes with their chosen learning institutions, supported by funding from HRD Corp through the levy system and NCIA under the 12th Malaysia Plan. 'If a company wishes to develop their manpower skills, they may not only utilise the levy from HRD Corp but also use grants from NCIA to increase the allocation amount. 'This effort reflects our commitment to building a highly skilled workforce and achieving the national target of 30% skilled workers by 2030,' Sim told reporters after launching the northern region National Training Week (NTW) 2025 Learning Tour in Bayan Lepas yesterday. Some 420 families of fishermen affected by the Silicon Island development project will also receive training to improve their career opportunities. 'The Training and Skills Enhancement Programme for families of fishermen and local communities is under the Focused Impact Training Initiative. 'A total of 420 participants from the community will receive training in various areas, including coxswain courses, site safety supervision, computer courses and safety officer certification. 'We want to ensure that families of fishermen are not left out of economic progress resulting from the Silicon Island development project by helping them secure high-impact employment opportunities, improve their income levels and uplift their socio-economic status,' he said. Themed 'Learning Beyond Borders', he added that the NTW programme has recorded over 3.2 million enrolment, exceeding its initial target of one million. He said the northern region alone has recorded more than 167,000 enrolment with almost 800 courses across Penang, Kedah and Perlis. Separately, Sim confirmed that discussions were being finalised for the ministry to work with the Penang government to develop the Penang Chip Design Academy in Bayan Lepas. 'This is a state government project and we are in discussion to finalise the collaboration between the ministry and the academy. 'As it specialises in developing the semiconductor and high-tech sector in Penang, we wish to add value and collaborate to upgrade the skills training programmes.'
New Straits Times
19-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
HR Ministry, Penang govt in final talks to boost high-tech talent development
GEORGE TOWN: The Human Resources Ministry is in the final stages of discussions with the Penang government to formalise a strategic collaboration aimed at expanding talent development within the high-tech and semiconductor sectors. At the heart of this effort is the Penang Chip Design Academy initiative, a state-backed programme announced earlier by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, designed to strengthen Penang's position as a regional hub for advanced technology and innovation. Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong said the aim was to produce more engineers in IR4.0. "The Penang Chip Design Academy is specifically aimed at advancing the semiconductor sector and high-tech industries in the state of Penang. "So, it is truly an institution that aims to train young people, our workers, and our human capital in this sector. "The Penang Chip Design Academy has already been announced by the Chief Minister. What we want to contribute is to add value — to see how we can collaborate with the state government to further stimulate skills training programmes in the state," he said when met after the launch of the NTW (National Training Week) northern region programme here today. Present was Deputy Chief Minister II Jagdeep Singh Deo. Sim said the ministry was exploring how it could contribute to enhancing skills training programmes under the Penang Chip Design Academy. "This is not just about producing more talent. "It is about producing the right talent for the semiconductor and high-tech industries that are critical to Penang's economic future," he said. He said an announcement would be made soon once all the details have been worked out. The Penang Chip Design Academy is a state initiative led by Chow to bolster Penang's IC design and digital sectors. It aims to develop a skilled workforce in integrated circuit (IC) design through upskilling and reskilling programmes. The academy is part of the Penang STEM Talent Blueprint and is a key component of the state's plan to establish an IC Design and Digital Park. Other Initiatives Meanwhile, Sim also announced his ministry's collaboration with the NCIA (Northern Corridor Implementation Authority) to provide matching grants to companies that utilise their Human Resource Development (HRD) Corporation grants to implement skills development programmes for their staff. "So, for example, if a company wants to take up or develop a higher-level course, such as a professional diploma, they can not only use their HRD Corp grant, but NCIA will also provide a matching grant. "This will increase the total allocation to help companies further enhance the skills of their employees," he said. Secondly, Sim said, the ministry was also working with the state government to train or provide training to around 400 fisherfolk in the southern part of the island, involved in the Penang Silicon Island project, focusing on skills development. He said this included not only technical skills, but also communication skills, entrepreneurship, and, of course, AI, digitalisation, and so on. "This is so that these fisherfolk and the youth in these families have options to develop themselves in terms of careers and employment opportunities in the future," he said.
