Currently, 42.5 per cent or 17 out of 40 programmes under the NCER (Northern Corridor Economic Region) have taken off. With projects progressing on schedule, the northern states are headed towards development despite the economic downturn

When former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi launched the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) in 2007, announcing Penang as the ‘Gateway to the Northern Corridor’, many were excited to see what would become of the northern states. Two years later, the seeds of development which were sown begin to ripen.

Valuable Land

Though many referred to Penang as the hub of the NCER, the main focus of the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) has always been the agricultural industry. Primarily set in Kedah, around 932,581 hectares of land in the NCER was allocated for agricultural activities. Out of these, 63 per cent are currently being cultivated.

Spearheaded by Sime Darby Berhad (Sime Darby), measures are being taken to improve the agricultural sector by increasing the scale of agriculture. Issues relating to marketing and distribution channels are being tackled with the improvement of roads within the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) farm and access roads to the farming areas in Kedah.

The use of technology and good agricultural practices are still low among local farmers and efforts are being taken to ensure better adaptability and adoption of these modern practices and technologies. This can be seen in the development of a paddy nursery farm in Kerian, Perak.

Electronics and Electrical

The manufacturing industry particularly in the electronics and electrical sector remains a key component in the NCER’s plan for Penang to emerge as a hi-tech regional electronics hub. Steps are being taken to achieve this by increasing competitiveness in attracting investments.

Plans include offering attractive incentives to investing companies and the effective use of labour and workforce, and developing technology to assist in processes in an efficient and cost effective manner. Other areas targeted for improvement are Human Capital Development and Research. Industries are also encouraged to move into higher value-add activities and deepen their industry linkage. 

Welcoming Holiday Seekers

The tourism sector in Malaysia is the nation’s second largest foreign exchange earner, amounting to RM9.1 billion in 2005. With its many attractions, World Heritage Site status, infrastructure and services, the NCER aims to attract foreign investors under the first phase to invest in Penang and Langkawi as World-Class holiday destinations.

New attractions have been planned in Langkawi, such as a Marine Life Conservation Centre, Fruit Farming and Home Stay programmes, Adventure Tourism and others. Additionally, several initiatives have been planned on the mainland to promote and develop attractions such as Kuala Nerang and the Royal Belum State Park.

Starting Young

There is a need to educate the young in information and communication technology (ICT) and other relevant skills. Strategies include increasing ICT awareness in schools, empowering and motivating teachers, encouraging close industry-education institution linkages, exposing NCER residents to international setting and promoting active participation in quality life-long learning.

The NCER hopes to kick-start this programme with the current development of the Educational City Hostel and Digital Resource Centre in Taiping.

Addressing Social Needs

Poverty is the main issue that denies access to Education and Human Capital Development. Measures are being taken to solve this through specialised initiatives to provide additional sources of income and empowering women by providing a conducive environment to enable them to balance both work and domestic responsibilities.

The Women’s Entrepreneur Programme was set up in the Kulim High Tech Park to achieve this and Sustainable Community Development Programmes have been launched in Kampung Sungai Kerang, Perak and Kampung Bukit Kura, Kedah.

Corporate Involvement

Sime Darby has played an important role at the launch of the NCER to spearhead the provision of the NCER master plan as part of its corporate social responsibility. The conglomerate has undertaken various investment programmes and initiatives which include the planting of sweet corn in a 300-acre area in Bukit Tangga, Kedah and the Agropreneur Development Programme to eradicate poverty, both totalling RM4 million and RM8 million respectively.

Sime Darby also invested RM10 million to establish a Seed Research Centre in cooperation with the Perak government and RM16 million for a model paddy farm in Ladang Gedung, Bagan Serai, Perak utilising the latest technologies and irrigation systems. The conglomerate will continue to undertake other agriculture related activities in areas owned by it in the future.

The progress of the NCER during the economic downturn mirrors the will of the people and the government in striving beyond self. With continuous hard work and the backing of huge conglomerates, the NCER may just rival that of Vietnam and Thailand in just a few years.