Kuala lumpur: The Central Region Industrial Cluster Development initiative is set to contribute RM24.5 billion annually to the GDP of Selangor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, and the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, as announced by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, MIDA’s CEO, Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid, highlighted that the initiative is expected to draw RM12.5 billion in approved investments each year, while also creating 5,000 high-value jobs over the next five years. He emphasized that the initiative is aligned with the objectives of the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030) and the MADANI Economy Framework, focusing on a more streamlined, inclusive, and sustainable industrial development.
Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim underlined the necessity of collective efforts, noting that working in isolation would not benefit Malaysia. He stated that Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Melaka, and Negeri Sembilan are well-positioned to support this development, as he spoke to Bernama during the Flagship Investment Seminar: The Industrial Cluster Initiative in the Central Region.
The two-day seminar, themed ‘Innovating Industries, Connecting Markets,’ has gathered 800 industry leaders, policymakers, business communities, and investors. The event focuses on strengthening supply chain linkages and empowering local enterprises to scale alongside multinational partners.
Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim further commented that the initiative would drive industrial development and leverage Kuala Lumpur’s financial services to support the industrialisation in the region. The focus will be on aerospace, pharmaceutical, medical technology, electrical and electronics, food manufacturing, and halal products, which are considered core industries for further development.
He stated that the initiative represents a shift towards attracting investments that are integrated into the domestic economy, enabling small and medium enterprises to join global supply chains and providing upward mobility for the workforce.
MIDA’s mandate has evolved, with the Central Region complementing other major economic corridors like the East Coast Economic Region (ECER), the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER), and Iskandar Malaysia. Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim stressed the need for seamless collaboration between federal and state governments, meaningful partnerships between industry and academia, and a government that acts as an enabler.