NCIA To Lure Investors From Kyoto & Nagoya

From Massita Ahmad KYOTO, April 23 (Bernama) -- The Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) is participating in a two-day trade and investment mission to Japan beginning here Monday. Its Chief Executive Redza Rafiq is confident of attracting Japanese investors to invest in the Corridor which covers Perak, Kedah, Perlis and Penang. Speaking to Bernama, Redza said that the authority had a good track record in managing to close deals with potential investors, while participating in past trade and investment missions. "We have a 100 per cent success rate," said Redza, whose term as chief executive has been extended for another three years, until Dec 31, 2015. His contract was due to expire on Dec 31 this year. Redza was previously the Managing Director of Cyberview Sdn Bhd and had been involved in Cyberjaya's development since 1997. Under his leadership, the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) attracted the largest investments, with RM15.3 billion (US$4.987 billion) approved manufacturing licences last year. At Kyoto, the NCIA is seeking to lure potential investors where the main industries here are electronics, advanced electronic devices & components, machinery & equipment, engineering services and chemicals & pharmaceuticals. The NCIA is the statutory body responsible for setting the direction, policies and programmes for the NCER, with four key thrust areas, namely, agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and logistics. Led by the Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, Mukhriz Mahathir, the next stop for the trade and investment mission is Nagoya, tomorrow. -- BERNAMA