NCER attracts approved investments, creates 12,000 jobs

• Growth in E&E, M&E and medical device sectors
• Claims to have benefited 92k recipients, business communities

The Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) has said it secured US$3.8 billion (RM17.25 billion) in approved investments and created 12,315 new jobs as of July 31.

In a statement, NCIA said this was supported by sustained growth in the E&E (electrical and electronic), M&E (mechanical and electrical) and medical devices sectors in the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER).

“These positive developments including the recent investment by FGV, Baladna Food Industries and Touch Group Holdings to develop an integrated dairy farm business in Chuping, Perlis to support the national food security agenda is testament to the confidence private investors have in the region’s economic and talent ecosystem,” said Ismail Sabri Yaakob, prime minister of Malaysia.

NCIA chief executive Mohamad Haris Kader Sultan said to support the increasing industry requirements coming from these strategic investments, NCIA is focused on further strengthening the talent ecosystem to ensure the integration with the industry’s supply chain to increase NCER’s comparative advantage and address any post-pandemic gap in the ecosystem.

The agency claimed its Kasih Ibu NCER, empowerNCER, entrepreneurNCER JomNiaga@NCER, JomKerja@NCER, and Dana Usahawan NCER which are its rakyat-centric human capital programmes have benefitted 92,493 recipients and business communities in the Northern Corridor Economic Region since 2019.

It said through the NCER Dana Pembangunan Modal Insan (DPMI), a sustainable financial resource can be mobilised via government and private collaboration. 

It noted that these programmes are implemented in a holistic and integrated manner and as such, will be aligned with other government initiatives such as Jamin Kerja and Pembasmian Kemiskinan Tegar Keluarga Malaysia (BMTKM) programmes to improve social mobility amongst the vulnerable groups and accelerate socioeconomic recovery. 

“Through these various initiatives by NCIA supporting the rakyat, business communities and investors, coupled with strong economic fundamentals and robust ecosystem, the region is on track to achieve and exceed its targets in terms of investments in-flow and job creation by the end of 2022,” said Mohamad Haris.