ALOR SETAR, March 14 ― China is looking to build a RM3 billion Kedah Integrated Fishery Terminal (KIFT) in Kuala Kedah for landing and processing of tuna fish.

The project, said Kedah Executive Councillor for Industry and Investment, Domestic Trade, Consumer Affairs and Cooperative, and Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT), Datuk Dr Ku Abdul Rahman Ku Ismail, has obtained the approval from the National Physical Planning Council last year.       

The council is under the Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government.

"We are expecting to sign the agreement with the investor soon,” said Ku Rahman, adding that the project would boost Kedah's development once it took off.

He was speaking to reporters after China's Ambassador to Malaysia, Dr Huang Huikang, paid a courtesy visit on Kedah Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah, here yesterday.               

The terminal would be fully-funded by China's Lu Hai Feng, a private company based in Qingdao, and build on 2,340 hectares along the coastal area from Taman Bersatu up to Kampung Tebengau in Kuala Kedah.

The terminal is set to be the base for tuna fishing boats operating in the Indian Ocean.

Huang said China was optimistic in exploring Kedah's fishing, tourism, renewable energy and rubber industries to build stronger bilateral trade relations.

"We can integrate our latest technologies with Kedah's rubber production to build a very advanced rubber industry here.

"As for tourism, we will introduce more Chinese tourists to Langkawi,” he said. ― Bernama