KUALA LUMPUR: Kerian Industrial City (KIC) is expected to create new opportunities for industrial growth, attract investment and support the expansion of local businesses.
Spanning 116.15 hectares with an estimated gross development value of RM700 million, KIC is expected to generate 12,000 jobs, according to Perak State Development Corp (PKNPk).
The development will create opportunities for investors, industrial operators, and support service providers to expand their operations in Kerian, accelerating the local economy and contributing to Perak's broader economic growth.
Located in northern Perak, Kerian has a strong industrial foundation, with the Parit Buntar Industrial Estate serving as one of the district's key drivers of manufacturing and supporting industrial activities.
PKNPk chief executive Datuk Redza Rafiq Abdul Razak said KIC presents significant opportunities for industry collaboration in recruiting engineers, technical personnel, and industrial trainees, as well as conducting applied research to meet the needs of the private sector.
"We want KIC's success to bring tangible benefits by creating job opportunities that enable Perak's young people to build their careers and secure a better future in their home state.
"Through strategic collaboration between industry players and educational institutions, we can realise this potential, in line with the aspirations of Perak Sejahtera 2030," he said.
KIC is part of Perak's broader economic development network, which also includes Automotive High Technology Valley, Lumut Maritime Industrial City, Silver Valley Technology Park and KIGIP.
Each development has its own distinct role and strengths, contributing to the state's overall economic capacity across the automotive, technology, maritime, manufacturing and green industries sectors.
Perak chief minister Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said KIC represents a strategic initiative to strengthen Kerian's economic capacity, expand investment opportunities, and ensure local communities benefit from industrial growth.
"It is time for Kerian to strengthen its economic potential and transition from an agriculture-based economy towards higher-value industries. Kerian must now prepare to enter a new era, building on its agricultural strengths while embracing higher-value industrial activities.
"KIC is more than just an industrial development. It is a catalyst for investment, creates economic opportunities, and ultimately brings greater prosperity to the people.
"This is in line with the aspirations of Perak Sejahtera 2030 to build a progressive, competitive, and prosperous state," he said.
Asia Bina Group managing director Datuk Yong Chai Seng said KIC's success should not be measured solely by its ability to attract investment, but also by the extent to which the development creates opportunities for local vendors, suppliers, contractors and businesses to participate in the industrial supply chain.
"Through close collaboration among all stakeholders, we want to ensure that local businesses have opportunities to expand their capacity and strengthen their capabilities, enabling the benefits of this development to continue reaching the local community over the long term," added Yong.
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