By Yussof J. Imbang
KUDAT: Kudat District will emerge as the most important high-impact regional economic hub in Southeast Asia once the Blue Economy Industrial Park Project (BEIP) begins to be implemented during the 13th Malaysia Plan.
Sedco Group chairman Datuk Masiung Banah said the project with the concept of maritime development and green technology was the first new innovation in the country.
He explained that Sedco was given the role of the main leader in developing the industrial area together with ministries, state and federal departments as well as interested private agencies.
Masiung was asked to comment after chairing a meeting and engagement session regarding BEIP’s proposed technology at the Kudat District Office on Thursday.
According to the Kuamut representative, the large-scale project is focused on seafood-related industries and trade logistics in the Southeast Asian region.
As a first step, he said the appointed consultant was instructed to prepare a master plan, including starting land works and surveying the 1,205-acre site owned by the corporation in Kampung Limau-Limauan and Perapat Laut.
Masiung said an area of 3,129 lands was also reserved for the economic project involving forest reserves and mangrove swamps in Matunggung, Banggi and Tanjung Kapor.
“The strategic location has great potential to be developed as it is located close to China, South Korea, Japan and the Philippines.
“The marine activities of local residents are also supported, such as improving the deep-sea fishing industry and upgrading the construction of Bagang in coastal areas,” he explained.
The industrial region also offers various high-value maritime projects, integrating environmental friendliness and marine sustainability in addition to proposals to build a port as a regional trade zone.
Also present at the engaging session
management and site visit, is the Banggi People’s Representative, Datuk Mohammad Mohmarin, general manager of Sedco,
Ar. Datuk Jemas Wong; Kudat District Officer Charles William Dabbi; heads of state and federal departments; and local residents involved in the proposed project
