Port Dickson: SD Guthrie Bhd (SD Guthrie) and Menteri Besar Incorporated Negeri Sembilan (MBINS) are set to develop the Port Dickson Free Zone (PDFZ) in Pasir Panjang, Port Dickson. The project will encompass an area of 242.8 hectares (600 acres) and is projected to have a gross development value (GDV) exceeding RM1 billion.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the development site is located at Ladang Sengkang, Pasir Panjang, which is owned by SD Guthrie. Infrastructure construction is slated to begin in the second quarter of 2026, contingent upon the establishment of a joint venture entity and the finalisation of the master plan, expected in the first quarter of 2026.
The Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, highlighted that the PDFZ will be strategically positioned opposite the Midport Smart Artificial Intelligence (AI) Container Port site in Port Dickson. This initiative aims to serve as a key catalyst for the growth of Midport. The development will include facilities such as warehousing areas, high-tech factories, and other supporting infrastructure, pending approval from relevant authorities.
Aminuddin emphasized that the project holds the potential to significantly enhance the state’s industrial sector and strengthen the economic and investment ecosystem in the region. The integration between Midport and PDFZ is expected to maximize synergy in logistics operations, light processing, and manufacturing sectors, positioning Midport as a preferred port with a seamless supply chain system.
During his speech at the signing ceremony of the land sale agreement and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between MBINS and SD Guthrie, Aminuddin noted that the PDFZ aims to attract strategic investments from major global industrial companies, optimizing the use of container transportation and maritime services.
Also present at the signing ceremony was SD Guthrie group managing director, Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha. Aminuddin explained that the project’s initial focus will be on transferring basic infrastructure land and promoting it to investors. In the long term, PDFZ is envisioned to become a high-tech industrial hub supporting Midport’s growth.
He further mentioned that the physical construction of Midport is expected to commence soon and will take several years to become fully operational. The target is for the port to be operational by 2027, with the first phase of PDFZ also completed by then to support port operations. Aminuddin projected that by 2035, Port Dickson could emerge as a ‘New Port City’, gaining recognition both domestically and internationally.
The state government aims for a gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 8.1 percent annually until 2045. Under the Malaysia Vision Valley 2.0 (MVV 2.0) framework, the Midport and PDFZ projects are strategic drivers towards achieving this target.
Mohamad Helmy expressed that the PDFZ project is a strategic and visionary initiative aligned with national development aspirations and the sustainable progress agenda. The collaboration with MBINS solidifies SD Guthrie’s presence in Negeri Sembilan’s industrial development landscape. He highlighted that the approach of combining land commercialisation with strategic partnerships allows immediate asset value realisation while creating potential recurring income streams. This model aims to leverage high-potential strategic land reserves across the country, contributing to socio-economic benefits for the people.