Kedah: The Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER), in partnership with the Kedah state government and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), has realised investments amounting to RM20.38 billion in 2024, a significant increase from RM11.6 billion the previous year. NCER chief executive Datuk Mohamad Haris Kader Sultan noted that this positive trend has persisted into the current year, with RM9.11 billion in realised investments recorded as of May 31, resulting in the creation of nearly 2,000 jobs.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, this performance underscores the confidence of investors and industry players in Kedah’s long-term potential, as well as that of the northern region as a whole. Datuk Mohamad Haris emphasized that NCER will maintain its crucial role while strengthening cooperation with the state government and relevant agencies to further enhance investment realisation in Kedah, ensuring it meets investors’ expectations. These remarks were made at the NCER Aidiladha Get-Together event.
Prior to the event, NCER presented its investment performance to Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor during the Kedah State Steering Committee Meeting. Updates were also provided on strategic projects such as the Kedah Rubber City and the Kedah Science and Technology Park, along with plans to boost Kedah’s tourism sector. The initiatives include the implementation of the Integrated Economic and Community Centre (iCON), upgrades to tourism facilities in Mong Gajah and Tasik Pedu, and the development of Dataran Bukit Kayu Hitam.
Mohamad Haris explained that the iCON project is a continuation of NCER’s entrepreneurship development programme, empowerNCER. Previously, entrepreneurs received training and support to start their businesses, and now they are being provided with physical business premises to help accelerate their growth. He noted that the iCON Yan development is fully completed and will soon begin operations, while iCON Baling has reached 90 percent completion, with demand for business space at both locations being very encouraging due to rental rates being significantly lower than market value.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Sanusi expressed the state government’s gratitude and full support for NCER’s efforts to develop the iCON projects in Kedah. He described it as a meaningful initiative to bridge the urban-rural development gap by unlocking the potential of less-developed areas. Muhammad Sanusi expressed hope that NCER would continue supporting the Kedah state government’s socio-economic development efforts, citing considerable untapped potential in the investment, tourism, and agriculture sectors.