GEORGE TOWN – Kedah foresees that the proposed international airport in Sidam Kiri, Kulim will now proceed without hitches since it is a privately funded project.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said that state authorities have obtained consent to proceed with the project from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on grounds that it is a privately financed initiative.
The low-key developer – ECK Development Sdn Bhd is reportedly the main contractor for the mammoth project, which is designed to turn the industrial township of Kulim into a metropolis with logistics, manufacturing and services as its main economic output.
ECK is also involved in another mega project in Penang – the construction of three highways and the cross-channel undersea tunnel, after it bought over the majority equity of the Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd last year.
Sanusi said all matters relating to the project, including finance, land acquisition and technical requirements have been completed according to schedule.
“I don’t see any more obstacles for us to move together to realise a high impact project for Kedah that will benefit all states in the north and Malaysia,” Sanusi told journalists after the signing ceremony between the state and project developer KXP AirportCity, Pos Aviation and the KLIA College.
KXP is a joint-venture company formed by InvestKedah Sdn Bhd with ECK.
The proposed airport is part of Kedah’s Aerotropolis project designed to drive the state’s southern region economic transformation.
Located on an area of 3,965ha, the project involves the construction of the airport as well as facilities for an industrial park that caters for logistics, aerospace and manufacturing.
Pos Aviation, a subsidiary of Pos Malaysia, is an air-cargo end-user and ground operations, while the collaboration with KLIA College is related to producing the manpower needed at Kedah Aerotropolis.
The Aerotropolis is a concept in which its planners at the Northern Corridor Implementation Agency envisions to be a game changer in the future economic growth in the states of Perlis, Kedah and Penang.
These projects will support e-commerce, not just in the region, but also in southern Thailand.
It will also help accelerate the advancement of high-tech industries, such as the maintenance, repair and operating supplies subsector. – The Vibes, January 31, 2022
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