KANGAR (Oct 17): Chuping Valley, a well-planned ambitious project to be developed at the former site of the sugar cane plantation in Chuping, is to serve as a "game changer" to Perlis' economy following keen interest shown by foreign and domestic investors, a state executive councillor said today.
From next year, the sleepy hollow landscape at the 1,200ha Chuping Valley will start to change gradually to become a vibrant industrial, trade, tourism, education and housing hub, said Sabry Ahmad.
He said a staggering RM5 billion will be invested beginning next year to transform the laid-back area and once a popular hideout for illegal immigrants and a transit to sneak into northern Malaysian states.
"I expect the investment value to double after a few years due to the strategic location of the Chuping Valley, on the fringes of the gas and natural resources-rich Malaysia-Thailand border," he told reporters after representing Menteri Besar Azlan Man to open a dialogue to exchange views to transform Perlis into a Developed State by 2015.
Among the initial investment at Chuping Valley is Perlis Inland Port, spanning 200 hectares.
The RM1.5 billion project is the sole and the biggest dry port in the country, which will indirectly serve as an additional communication infrastructure including railway lines and road to the Chuping Valley area, said Sabry, who is also the state committee chairman for regional and corridor development, new growth areas and Bandar Baru Perlis.
He said foreign investors from the Middle East are showing interest to invest in the tourism sector, including building a five-star resort, a 18-hole golf course and a theme park on a 200ha site involving RM505 million investment.
South African investors are keen to invest in a helicopter terminal on a 100 hectare site, he said.
Sabry said an American investor is wants to establish an electric car manufacturing and a solar energy manufacturing plant, with an initial RM2.5 million investment on a 100 hectare site.
He said a local company has shown interest to invest RM300 million to develop a solar industry on a 60ha site to produce 50 Megawatt electricity.
Two tertiary learning institutions are to be established at Chuping Valley and discussions are in progress between the state government and the institutions' management, he added.
Meanwhile, about 500 community leaders, officials from government departments and agencies and the private sector attended the dialogue.
Government departments and agencies involved in the implementation of the Perlis A Developed State programme held an exhibition to showcase their products and services to the people in conjunction with the dialogue.