Perak urges Wenzhou business community to invest in property, biodiversity

WENZHOU (China): The Perak government has urged investors from Wenzhou to seek opportunities in the state, especially in real estate, biodiversity as well as manufacturing industries.

Its Senior Executive Councillor Datuk Hamidah Osman said the state government and local property developers are keen on inviting the people of Wenzhou to come and see for themselves, Perak's potential.

"Come over and see the opportunities in Perak. The state is looking at more development, especially a new city and business centre. We like to invite investors who are keen to join the state government in developing Perak.

"Perak is one of the states offering land at a reasonable rate. In Wenzhou, property prices are between RM1,500 to RM2,000 per sq ft while in Ipoh, it is RM300 per sq ft.

"With that comparison, we have lots to offer," she told Bernama here on May 12.

Hamidah is leading a trade and investment mission to Wenzhou and Shanghai,

China, from May 10 to 15. The 20-member delegation comprises state officials and representatives from Perak enterprises.

The delegation she said, hopes in turn, to promote the "Malaysia, My Second Home", concept.

Hamidah said Perak covered an area of 21,000 sq km and 52% could still be developed.

She also stated that the state had more room for expansion when compared with Penang.

She said the state government is looking for a vibrant relationship with Wenzhou, and when the signing of a friendship agreement between the two cities materialises, the different potential could be tapped.

Hamidah said Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir will witness the signing next month at Wenzhou. Wenzhou will become the second friendship city for Ipoh after Medan.

She also said Perak hoped Wenzhou will share some of its experiences in port management, as the state government is looking to expand the Lumut Port.

Wenzhou is a major city in southeastern Zhejiang province, China. It is a small deep-sea port on the Ou River, 19km from the East China Sea and a major trade center for an area producing tea, cotton, and oranges.

It has a variety of light manufacturing industries and maintains a large export trade, benefiting from its close trade relations with Shanghai.

Hamidah said Wenzhou investors are welcome to develop plants in Perak to further process natural resources such as ball-clay, silica and kaolin into end products.

"We have a large concentration of limestone, silica, ball-clay and kaolin. It is a new sector that can be jointly developed in Perak," she explained.

Hamidah said Perak is also interested in inviting investors from Wenzhou to undertake research and development, especially in terms of biodiversity, such a pharmaceuticals as China is well-known for its herbs.

She said has more than 30,000 acres has been gazetted for the biodiversity industry.

Besides that, Hamidah said the state government is also offering eco-tourism for tourists from Wenzhou, with attractions being places like the Belum Rainforest, the Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve and Gua Tempurung. -- Bernama