UniKL ASTI will facilitate PIP to boost Malaysia-Thailand trade

Credit Photo : Chief Minister of Perlis, Dato’ Seri Azlan Man Facebook Page

Universiti Kuala Lumpur Asia Sustainable Transportation Centre (UniKL ASTI) has been outlined as one of the important project components that will support Perlis Inland Port (PIP) in Perlis to boost the trade value between Malaysia and Thailand.

The Chief Minister of Perlis, Dato’ Seri Azlan Man said that UniKL ASTI – which will spearhead the development of the state’s economy and one of the key players in the area of transportation and logistics in the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) – is developed on a 60-acre land, located adjacent to the PIP.

“The three projects which are PIP, support infrastructure and UniKL ASTI will involve a (gross) development value (GDV) of almost RM2 billion. PIP is expected to disperse cargo movement between Malaysia and Thailand, which is valued at US$20 billion, and escalate the Malaysia-Thailand and China-Laos cross-border cargo services that form the Pan Asian Railway Network.

“This conducive logistic industrial landscape will contribute towards the development of the country’s logistic as well as sustaining the supply and the competitiveness of the local logistics industry,” said him, during delivering his speech at the launching ceremony of the PIP project in Chuping Valley Industrial Area (CVIA), Padang Besar, Perlis.

Datuk Dr Roziah Omar (left) on behalf of UniKL exchanges the document with Mutiara Perlis Sdn Bhd. – Credit Photo : Chief Minister of Perlis, Dato’ Seri Azlan Man Facebook Page

The ceremony was graced by Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail, who was accompanied by Raja Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail and attended by Prime Minister, Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob; Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) Chief Executive, Mohammad Haris Kader Sultan and President/Chief Executive Officer of UniKL, Datuk Dr. Roziah Omar.

PIP is part of NCIA’s effort to support the government’s goal in accelerating the recovery and growth of Malaysia’s economy post-Covid-19 pandemic, as outlined in the NCER Strategic Development Plan (2021-2025).

The project was developed under the collaboration of the Perlis state government, NCER and a private company, Mutiara Perlis Sdn. Bhd., which is projected to contribute to the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) worth RM2.8 billion and create 500 high valued job opportunities.

Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri, meanwhile, in his speech noted that currently, total trade between Malaysia and Thailand is worth US$23 billion of which US$10.5 billion was contributed through cross-border trade.

During his official visit to Thailand, Dato’s Sri Ismail Sabri added, Malaysia and the neighbouring country have also agreed to increase the value of trade between both countries to US$30 billion by 2025.

Principally, PIP would add value to strategic projects in the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) in Perlis, namely the Chuping Valley Industrial Area (CVIA), Chuping Agro Valley, NCER Agri Economic Zone and Perlis Superfruits Valley.