Malacca Converting Ports Into Specialized Hubs

Plans are underway to convert seven Malaccan ports into specialized hubs. The Malacca Port Development Masterplan is expected to increase investments and economic activity by creating jobs in the manufacturing, tourism and industrial sectors. The plan will upgrade the six existing Malaccan ports and begin construction on the Malacca Gateway Port, which will specialize in tourism.

The six existing ports will cater to various industries. The Linggi Port will serve the industrial sector, Tangga Batu will serve the oil and gas industry, Tanjung Bruas will serve cargo and containerships, Undang will serve the military, Umbai will serve the fishing industry and Sungai Rambai will serve the mining and mineral sectors.

"We have studied the advantages of specializing each port according to the sectors chosen under the masterplan in line with our goals to spur the state's economy,” said Datuk Lim Ban, the Malacca Transport and Project Rehabilitation Committee chairman.

Malacca is the third-smallest Malaysian state after Perlis and Penang and is located on the southern region of the Malay Peninsula next to the Straits of Malacca and the royal city of Muar. Malaysia had a GDP of $336.9 billion in 2014, 83% of which came from exports.