MORE THAN 20,000 JOBS TO BE CREATED IN NCER

GEORGE TOWN (Malaysia), Oct 8 (Bernama) -- More than 20,000 jobs and 232
business opportunities in various sectors are expected to be created in the next
10 years under the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) programme.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department SK Devamany said the
government had made the forecast based on the inflow of new investments,
government support and the Economic Transformation Programme to turn Malaysia
into a high-income nation by 2020.

"Each sector has a different approach. In the manufacturing sector, for
instance, Advanced Micro Devices Export Sdn Bhd (AMD) which collaborates with
the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) will develop a
microprocessor testing facility in Penang and this will attract more foreign
investments here.

"At the same time, AMD will further develop the semi-conductor industry and
provide about 500 jobs in the technical and engineering fields," he told
reporters after a working visit to AMD in Bayan Lepas, near here, Friday.

Also present were NCIA chief executive Datuk Redza Rafiq, Public-Private Sector
Cooperation Unit (Ukas) deputy director-general Ahmad Husni Hussain and AMD
vice-president and managing director Dr Mohd Sofi Osman.

Among the new investments in the NCER are in aquaculture projects in Langkawi,
the aquaculture product processing factory in Sungai Kerang, in northern state
of Perak and Pauh industrial zone development programme in northern state of
Perlis.

"For the aquaculture programmes, we will move away from traditional methods to
one that uses technology, making the operations easier and faster, besides using
less manpower, hence reducing costs," said Devamany.

"For tourism, we will introduce new products such as sports tourism in Langkawi
and Penang, while for health tourism, we will be making some improvisations," he
added.
-- BERNAMA