Chow: PDC developing three industrial parks with total investment of RM3.2b

• Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who is also the PDC chairman, said these industral parks in South Seberang Perai are expected to be fully completed in 2031, after development started in 2022.

GEORGE TOWN (Feb 15): Penang Development Corporation (PDC) is developing three industrial parks in the state involving a total investment of RM3.2 billion, including for infrastructure development, in a bid to stimulate the industrial sector’s growth.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow (pictured), who is also the PDC chairman, said these industral parks in South Seberang Perai are expected to be fully completed in 2031, after development started in 2022.

“To continue its legacy of excellence, PDC is actively developing the three parks, namely the 154.6-hectare (ha) Bandar Cassia Technology Park, 251.7ha Batu Kawan Industrial Park 3 (BKIP3), and 70.5ha Penang Science Park South, with a total investment cost of RM3.2 billion.

“The three projects have been going on since 2022, and earthworks have been done prior to the infrastructure works. For the BKIP3, the ground-breaking ceremony will be officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim tomorrow (Friday),” Chow told a press conference here on Thursday.

He said PDC, which is currently seeking more land for industrial parks, had succeeded in making Penang a key investment destination that is dynamic and sustainable through its role in spearheading the development of industrial parks. 

Chow said that over the 54 years since the corporation was established, nine industrial parks measuring about 6,100 acres (2,469 hectares) had been developed, including the Bayan Lepas Industrial Park, Seberang Jaya Industrial Park, Perai Industrial Park, Bukit Minyak Industrial Park, Penang Science Park, and Batu Kawan Industrial Park.

He said these industrial parks accommodate 350 multinational and local companies as well as offering job opportunities.

Meanwhile, on Phase 1 of the BKIP2 spanning 226.22ha in Byram, South Seberang Perai, Chow said the development will be carried out via a strategic partnership on a parcel of private land acquired by PDC through the state government, hence it will not involve any land owned by Sime Darby Plantation Bhd in the vicinity.

He said the strategic partnership approach is implemented by inviting property industry players to participate with PDC in industrial park development through an open tender that is now being advertised in stages starting from the pre-qualification stage. The completion of the pre-qualification evaluation will be followed by a request for proposals via invitation.

“The BKIP2 development will be done through a collaboration with the private sector in order to achieve several main goals, including expediting the preparation of industrial lots to be offered to potential investors at choice locations that suit their types of enterprise to ensure competitiveness, and that Penang remains a destination of choice for investors.  

“The involvement of the private sector is expected to give rise to better industrial park development approaches and concepts on a par with those in developed countries, besides offering a conducive and diverse ecosystem at the international level,” he said.

Chow said the pre-qualification tender advertisements began appearing in major newspapers and the PDC website on Feb 8, and they will run for six weeks until March 21.

“We invite any experienced and interested company to be PDC’s collaboration partner by participating in the tender exercise,” he added.

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