Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has said a new Perlis Inland Port (PIP) will grow trade between the country and Thailand.
The public-private initiative will see a new inland port being developed along the Malaysia-Thailand border and will transform Perlis into an international logistics hub.
PIP will serve as Malaysia’s new gateway for trade, specifically for container routes passing through Padang Besar. Once completed, the facility will have a capacity of 2 million TEU annually.
The Government of Malaysia allocated RM318 million ($75 million) to develop infrastructure at the port while the private sector has invested a total of RM1.2 billion ($285 million).
According to state media Malaysian Insight, the first phase of PIP is expected to be completed by early 2024.
“Malaysia and Thailand have agreed to set a target to achieve RM126 billion ($30 million) in bilateral trade by 2025,” said Ismail Sabri in a speech to commemorate the launch of the project.
“Perlis is well positioned geographically near the Malaysia-Thailand border and has the advantage to reap various economic and business opportunities in cross border trade.
“The development of PIP is timely to accelerate trade with Thailand and at the same time create added value to strategic projects in the Northern Corridor Economic Region namely the Chuping Valley Industrial Area (CVIA), Chuping Agro Valley (CAV), NCER Agribio Economic Zone (NAEZ) and Perlis Super Fruits Valley.”
PIP will also boost the state economic landscape by creating around 4,000 new jobs.
Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail, Raja of Perlis, welcomed the new scheme by saying: “The people of Perlis should take advantage of this development by becoming part of the PIP development to uplift their economy and wellbeing.”
Last year, Malaysian ports looked to digital investment to place the nation’s ports as a vital node in the Southeast Asian supply chain once again.
