PoABI Managing Director Kristof Waterschoot delivering his speech.

IPOH, 11 December 2023 - The European Union (EU) has channeled a RM9.5 million grant to the Port of Antwerp-Bruges International (PoABI) and Perak State Development Corporation (PKNPk) to carry out a study on the port and maritime sector in Perak.

Perak Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Saarani Mohamad said the grant was for conducting studies on Malaysia's attractiveness in the port and maritime sector and displaying data on its suitability as an international logistics and transport centre.

"The awarding of the grant from the EU is an important achievement that proves the country’s importance as a major investment destination, besides helping Lumut achieve its potential as the main driving force for the inclusive and sustainable development of Perak.

"Perak’s wealth of natural resources and the availability of infrastructure combined with the development of the Lumut Maritime Industrial City (LuMIC), and the established ties with PoABI has attracted the EU to the state to conduct a comprehensive study," he said at a press conference after the EU Grant Announcement Ceremony by PoABI and PKNPk at Casuarina Meru here.

Also present were State Legal Adviser Dato' Azmir Shah Zainal Abidin, State Financial Officer Dato' Zaki Mahyudin, EU Ambassador to Malaysia H.E. Michalis Rokas, Belgium Ambassador to Malaysia H.E. Peter Van Acker, PoABI Managing Director Kristof Waterschoot, PKNPk Executive Director-General Datuk Redza Rafiq Abdul Razak and heads of departments and agencies. Dato' Seri Saarani added that the comprehensive study included nine assessments with four initial assessments focussing on Malaysia in general to attract potential EU or other foreign investors. "The remaining five assessments will focus on preparing the roadmap of Lumut as a gateway to Malaysia. "The study has started since last September and will take 18 months to be completed," he said. Meanwhile, the Joint Venture Shareholders Agreement (JVSA) to establish LuMIC Development Sdn Bhd (LuMIC DevCo) as a special purpose company to jointly develop and manage LuMIC in an integrated manner was also signed. JVSA was a new phase of collaboration between PKNPk and PoABI in making the LUMIC initiative a success by making Perak a leading maritime and logistics centre while taking advantage of socioeconomic growth opportunities.

The strategic collaboration between PKNPk and PoABI to establish LuMIC and make it a new regional hub in the Malacca Straits was part of the effort to achieve the vision of Perak Sejahtera 2030, in line with the commitment to become a premier maritime centre in addition to creating an investor-friendly environment.

Source : Corporate, SUK Perak.