Perlis: The government is confident that the development of the Perlis Inland Port (PIP) will contribute significantly towards achieving the Malaysia-Thailand bilateral trade target, which is projected to reach US$30 billion by next year. Transport Minister Anthony Loke highlighted the strong economic ties between Malaysia and Thailand, emphasizing that the PIP would enhance these relations by facilitating more efficient and integrated cross-border trade.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Loke noted that Perlis' strategic location along the Malaysia-Thailand border positions it as a potential major logistics and trade hub in the region. He stressed that PIP could become a key land trade gateway linking ASEAN countries with broader markets in East Asia and Eurasia. This announcement was made during the opening ceremony of the Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Free Commercial Zone at PIP, officiated by the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail. The event was also attended by the Raja Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail, and Perlis Menteri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah.
Loke expressed optimism that the PIP would catalyze local economic growth by creating jobs, increasing business activity, and attracting high-quality investments to Perlis. The facility is expected to complement other strategic developments under the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER), such as the Chuping Valley Industrial Area, Kedah Rubber City, and the Kedah Science and Technology Park, thereby creating a competitive economic ecosystem.
The PIP's integration with Malaysia's double-track rail network and Thailand's railway system is anticipated to offer broader market access across ASEAN, China, Central Asia, and Europe via the Trans-Asian Railway network. This development aims to reduce reliance on a single transportation route, enhance logistics efficiency, and lower trade operating costs.
Additionally, Loke emphasized the environmental benefits of utilizing railway systems as the primary mode of cargo transportation, aligning with the nation's goal for a greener, sustainable transportation system by reducing carbon emissions and traffic congestion. The PIP is set to replace the Padang Besar Cargo Terminal, which has reached its maximum operational capacity. With an area of 202.34 hectares, the PIP offers an initial handling capacity of 600,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) per year, with the potential to expand to two million TEUs upon completion.
Loke concluded by stating that the PIP would serve as a strategic platform to expand Malaysia's trade network with countries in the Mekong region, China, and Central Asia, thereby reinforcing the nation's position as a preferred trade and logistics hub.