Kuala lumpur: The 13th Malaysia Plan (MP13) is set to enhance the roles of Perlis and Kedah as significant industrial and logistics centers, facilitating cross-border trade between Malaysia and Thailand.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) chief executive Datuk Mohamad Haris Kader Sultan emphasized that the logistics infrastructure projects outlined in MP13 are crucial for improving operational efficiency, lowering business costs, and attracting investment in export-focused manufacturing within the Northern Region.
Datuk Mohamad Haris highlighted that the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) supports MP13's emphasis on developing logistics infrastructure at the Perlis Inland Port (PIP) and the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) complex in Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah. This development aligns with MP13's objective of fortifying the northern logistics corridor under the border development initiative via the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle, and enhancing bilateral trade, particularly in high-tech products.
He mentioned that NCER is actively working on external infrastructure to support the PIP project, which includes constructing the Bonded Road and the Railway Spurline and viaduct under Packages 1 and 2, respectively. While the construction of Package 1, covering 6.5 kilometers, is fully complete, Package 2 is 93.6 percent done.
Furthermore, the strategic location of the PIP next to the Chuping Valley Industrial Area (CVIA) in Padang Besar is expected to foster strong industrial-logistics synergies. The NCIA plans to collaborate with the state government and relevant agencies to attract high-quality investments to CVIA, aligning with MP13's goal of promoting balanced regional economic growth and enhancing rural development.
Several infrastructure initiatives aimed at strengthening cross-border connectivity and trade, including upgrades to the PIP and ICQS complex in Bukit Kayu Hitam, are set to proceed under MP13, which was unveiled yesterday by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.