The four states in the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) are poised to receive a boost this year as the agency tasked with its development turns its attention towards technology and tourism projects.
Among other things, the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) has initiated efforts to place Malaysia on the map of international cruises by developing clusters of a cruise, ferry and marina network, called "Malaysia's Straits Riviera", and making destinations like Langkawi and Penang preferred ports of calls.
NCIA chief executive Datuk Redza Rafiq also told Business Times that a pilot project involving the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) in the movement of commodities like rubber from southern Thailand to Penang Port was in the works.
The move is part of efforts to increase the throughput of the port and capitalise on the double-tracking rail project from north of Ipoh to Padang Besar.
The pilot project, which is expected to take between 12 and 18 months, is likely to take off by the fourth quarter of this year.
Redza said the pilot project was aimed at leveraging on the capabilities of Penang Port and allowing it to access service lanes to India and Europe with the goods.
"We want to capitalise on the double-tracking project once that is completed," he added.
On the proposed "Malaysia's Straits Riviera" development, Redza said the NCIA was collaborating with Global Ports Sdn Bhd and several other players.
Global Ports is a regional seaport development and marketing company.
"Our aim is to realise the potential of this country's 'Straits Riviera' by connecting destinations like Langkawi and Penang to various identified sites and routes along the Straits of Malacca in developing this cluster of networks," Redza said.
He said the networks would play a pivotal part in the development of tourism clusters in the NCER, in particular Penang.
"This is part of an effort to position Swettenham Pier as the preferred home port for cruises and yachts in the region.
"According to Global Ports, the cruise industry, if properly tapped, can provide job opportunities as well as high-income earning possibilities and create business opportunities for the small- and medium-sized businesses and smaller traders."
The development of a seamless network for cruises, ferries and marinas in the north will bring about economic spin-offs and increase passenger movements, notably at waterway entry points like Kuah, Langkawi, Kuala Perlis, Kuala Kedah, Penang island and Seberang Prai.
The added value to the region would be in the promotion of distributive services within the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle, Myanmar, Singapore and the rest of Malaysia, Redza said.
In boosting the fortunes of Penang, touted as the country's "Silicon Island", Redza said that two centres of excellence for solid state lighting and biotechnology would be launched this year and next respectively.
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