What happen to NCER?

Malaysia's vision for the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) involving the states of Perlis, Kedah, Pulau Pinang and Perak under the 9th Malaysia Plan. What happen to NCER today?

Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) (Malay: Wilayah Ekonomi Koridor Utara or Korridor Utara) is a new economic development corridor in Malaysia. This programme is a Government initiative to accelerate economic growth and elevate income levels in the north of Peninsular Malaysia - encompassing the states of Perlis, Kedah, Pulau Pinang and the north of Perak. NCER is also one of the three development regions formed in Peninsular Malaysia, other development regions being the Iskandar Malaysia (formerly known as Iskandar Development Region and South Johor Economic Region) and the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) which is for the east coast states - Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang. The NCER initiative will span from 2007 to the end of the 12th Malaysia Plan period, i.e. 2025. The NCER was launched on 30 July 2007 in Alor Setar, Kedah and on 31 July 2007 in Butterworth, Penang. Both event was launched by its own Chairman which is the Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The vision of the NCER is to be a world-class economic region by 2025, where it is amongst the world’s best in a number of its key economic sectors, such as E&E (Electrical and Electronics cluster), agriculture, tourism and biotechnology. Through the provision of a conducive business environment, the NCER will be a destination of choice for foreign and domestic businesses to invest in, while its emphasis on social development, community infrastructure and environmental integrity will make it a place where both Malaysians and foreigners would choose to work, learn, visit and live.

The Northern Corridor Implementation Authortity (NCIA) was established under the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority Act 2008 (Act 687) as the authority responsible for providing direction and for devising policies and strategies in relation to socio-economic development in the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) which encompasses 21 districts in northern Peninsula Malaysia in the states of Kedah, Perak, Perlis and Penang.

Budget allocation

1. Ninth Malaysia Plan
An additional RM 5 billion has been allocated to the project from the currently allocated RM 12.5 billion from the Ninth Malaysia Plan.
2. Tenth Malaysia Plan
RM 13 billion is allocated by the government by the tenth Malaysia plan. Private investment is expected to account RM 30 billion.

There are 5 development areas, namely agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, education & human capital & social development.

Tourism
The Northern Corridor strategies for tourism are as such:

1.The Northern Corridor will be positioned as a premier destination for tourists seeking world-class resorts, spas, and also a destination for long-stay vacations.

2.The Northern Corridor will be touted as the regional medical tourism hub in Asia by providing high-quality services with more affordable specialists.

The main target is to increase average spending per visitor from the current base of RM1,890 to RM3,034 by 2012, and to increase tourist receipts from RM9 billion to RM21 billion over the same period. Simultaneously, due to the focus on medical tourism, it is estimated that annual expenditure on medical tourism will exceed RM350 million by 2012.

Penang state: Penang's Georgetown winning the UNESCO Living Heritage Award, is there any allocation on par with its status like Malacca for heritage conservation? Is there any allocation for cleaning the beaches and rivers in Penang?

Manufacturing

The Northern Corridor will become a high-tech electronics hub of the region, expanding from the currently predominant assemblies and test activities to higher value-added activities.

Penang state: Penang has already an global electronic hub; it is reported that some factory are leaving or closing down or stream down; there are lack of experienced senior electronic engineers. What have NCER done to enhance the capability and retain FDI on Bayan Baru silicon valley?

Education & Human Capital

The Education & Human Capital Development Plan for NCER is very much in line with the aspirations of the 9th Malaysia Plan to put additional emphasis on human capital development to ensure the sustainable success of the country. Students will need to learn, unlearn and relearn so as to be on par with the latest developments happening globally over the student’s lifetime.

Human capital development has proven to be a key ingredient in the overall socio-economic development of nations and is one of the key considerations for investors when selecting potential investment locations.

Penang state: The problem is we are exporting experienced engineers to other countries; we are exporting young talents to other countries. But importing unskilled workers from other countries. Any strategy to improve the imbalanced flow?

The latest development as reported in official website

8-1-2010 The Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) organised an exchange ceremony of Memorandum of Agreements with five government and private organisations at the Prime Minister's Office in Putrajaya for the implementation of human capital development programmes for the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER).

The ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak and Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Dato’ Haji Muhyiddin bin Mohd Yassin. The organisations involved were Sime Darby Berhad, Intel Malaysia, Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), Tradewinds Corporation Berhad and Tanjung Rhu Resorts. The organisations were represented by Dato’ Seri Idris Jusoh (Chairman of MARA), Dato’ Seri Ahmad Zubir Murshid (Group Chairman & CEO of Sime Darby Berhad), Mr. Atul Bhargava (Managing Director of Intel Malaysia), Mr. Fong Chan Kin (Chief Financial Officer for Tradewinds Corporation Berhad) and Encik Iskandar Zakaria Melvin (General Manager of Tanjung Rhu Resorts) while NCIA was represented by its Chief Executive, Dato’ Redza Rafiq.

28-12-2009(Bernama) -- (NCIA) appointed Datuk Redza Rafiq Abdul Razak as Chief Executive effective from 1-1-2010 with the contract for 3 years.

Related articles & websites:

1. Official websites, http://www.ncer.com.my/
2. Penang State official website, http://www.penang.gov.my/
3. Invest Penang, http://www.investpenang.gov.my/index.php