2 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Lumut Maritime City to be positioned as global industrial hub
KUALA LUMPUR: The Perak State Development Corporation (PKNPk) and Port of Antwerp-Bruges International (PoABI) have reaffirmed their strong commitment to advancing the Lumut Maritime Industrial City (LuMIC), aiming to establish it as a world-class maritime industrial hub in Southeast Asia.
This commitment was underscored during the recent LuMIC Development Sdn Bhd (LuMIC DevCo) board meeting in Antwerp, Belgium, where PKNPk and PoABI — the project's joint shareholders — reviewed progress and outlined the next phase of development.
PoABI continues to serve as PKNPk's principal international partner, leveraging its global expertise in maritime infrastructure, industrial planning, and smart logistics to guide LuMIC's strategic roadmap.
"PoABI has been instrumental in shaping the foundation of LuMIC's long-term vision and master plan," said Datuk Redza Rafiq, chief executive of PKNPk.
"Our collaboration reflects a shared vision for creating a future-forward maritime gateway that brings real socio-economic impact to the people of Perak while positioning Malaysia on the international trade map."
Since formalising their partnership in 2023 through the establishment of LuMIC Development Sdn Bhd, PKNPk and PoABI have completed LuMIC's comprehensive master plan, driven knowledge transfer initiatives, and engaged with global maritime players to attract investment. This foundation positions LuMIC to grow into a premier deep-sea industrial city that is sustainable, resilient, and competitive, fully aligned with the EU-ASEAN Global Gateway strategy.
"We remain fully invested in the LuMIC agenda as a shareholder, be it as a technical advisor or also as a long-term strategic collaborator in unlocking LuMIC's full potential," said Philippe Droesbeke, Board member of LuMIC DevCo, representing PoABI.
"Our role is to help translate vision into actionable outcomes from concept to execution, ensuring LuMIC meets global standards while fostering inclusive local growth."
"LuMIC is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build something transformative," added Alex Staring, Chief Business Development Officer, LuMIC DevCo. "We are proud to work alongside PKNPk and PoABI in co-creating value for the state via a smart, green and scalable maritime city aligned with future trade flows and emerging industrial ecosystems."
Anchored under Perak Sejahtera 2030, the state's long-term development plan, LuMIC serves as a catalyst for Flagship 13: Port and Maritime Hub — an initiative designed to spur investment across related sectors including energy, manufacturing, logistics, and digital infrastructure.
The partnership continues to gain momentum with clear alignment and a shared purpose, with PoABI leading LuMIC's global development strategy.
As part of the Perak Menteri Besar's official working visit to Europe in May 2025, PKNPk and PoABI met with several potential investors keen to explore opportunities within LuMIC. Following these discussions, three interested parties have already conducted initial site visits to evaluate the project's industrial readiness and strategic value. In conjunction with this week's Board meeting in Antwerp, the PKNPk delegation also held follow-up talks with these prospects to move collaboration discussions forward.
These engagements highlight growing international confidence in LuMIC's long-term vision and reinforce PoABI's pivotal role as a bridge connecting European industrial expertise and investment with Malaysia's next-generation maritime development.
