MIDA: Central Region Industrial Cluster To Contribute RM24.5 Bln To Annual GDP

By Nur Athirah Mohd Shaharuddin

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 (Bernama) -- The Central Region Industrial Cluster Development initiative is projected to contribute RM24.5 billion annually to the gross domestic product (GDP) of Selangor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, and the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, said the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA).

Its chief executive officer, Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid, said the initiative is expected to attract RM12.5 billion in approved investments per year and create 5,000 high-value jobs over the next five years.

“The initiative is aligns closely with the objectives of the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030) and the MADANI Economy Framework, whereby we aim to be more streamlined, inclusive and sustainable. 

“Working in isolation or silos will not benefit Malaysia -- we need this industrial cluster development, and Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan are well-positioned to offer this,” he told Bernama on the sidelines of the Flagship Investment Seminar: The Industrial Cluster Initiative in the Central Region, here, today.

The two-day investment seminar beginning today has brought together 800 industry leaders, policymakers, business communities, and investors. Themed “Innovating Industries, Connecting Markets”, it focuses on strengthening supply chain linkages and enabling local enterprises to scale alongside multinational partners.

Commenting further, Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim said the initiative would not only drive industrial development but also leverage Kuala Lumpur’s strength in providing sophisticated financial services to support the industrialisation of the three neighbouring states.

“Under the initiative, we are focusing on aerospace, pharmaceutical, medical technology, electrical and electronics, and food manufacturing, and also halal products as these are the core industries we aim to develop further,” he said.

He said the initiative represents a deliberate shift towards attracting investments that are deeply integrated into the domestic economy, enabling small and medium enterprises to participate in global supply chains and creating upward mobility for the workforce.

He said MIDA’s mandate has evolved significantly, with the Central Region complementing other major regional economic corridors such as the East Coast Economic Region (ECER), the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER), and Iskandar Malaysia.

“This requires seamless collaboration between federal and state governments, meaningful partnerships between industry and academia, and a government that functions as an enabler rather than merely an authority,” he added.

-- BERNAMA