BUKIT KAYU HITAM, May 26 (Bernama) -- Kedah achieved a milestone of its own with the realisation of the country's first e-commerce and logistics hub involving the import and export of goods via road mode.
The first phase of an e-commerce terminal, operating in an approximately 5574.18 square metres warehouse in an industrial area here, was completed last March and will start operating Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said the e-commerce hub is a gift to the people of Kedah, especially in helping to generate economic growth in the state as well as employment opportunities.
"Today, another history is made in Kedah where the investment by KT Express Logistics Sdn Bhd, which will reach RM1 billion, we officiate the phase one first where it is the only road mode institutions of higher learning that will work closely with the company to supply manpower for the operation of this hub," he told reporters after launching phase one of the e-commerce hub project here today.
The event was also attended by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, chairman of the State Committee on Industry and Investment, Science, Technology and Innovation and Higher Education Datuk Dr Ku Abd Rahman Ku Ismail and chief executive officer of KT Express Logistics Datuk Affendi Mohamed Zain.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Sanusi said Kedah had managed to attract RM20 billion in investments this year, surpassing the target of RM10 billion a year set in the Kedah Development Plan 2035. "The amount is for the first and second quarter of this year. The second quarter is not over yet (but) we secured RM20 billion. InsyaAllah, in the third and fourth quarter there are more (investment). “A lot of investments involve the manufacturing industry. So, we open as wide as possible, we have industrial areas in Bakar Arang, Sungai Petani and Kuala Ketil, Baling which are expanding," he said. Besides that, he said the state government had also asked the federal government to upgrade the roads in the industrial areas in the state, which are now increasingly congested with vehicles due to increased investment.
The development of the e-commerce hub, which is implemented in three phases over a period of five years, will involve an investment of RM1 billion by KT Express Logistics and is expected to create up to 2,500 job opportunities.
Source: https://www.bernama.com/en/news.php?id=2085191
