Govt mulls FTZ areas in Port Klang and Tanjung Pelepas
The Star Maritime
The Government is seriously looking into establishing free trade zone areas within the port corridor in Port Klang and Tanjung Pelepas to enhance the attractiveness of ports, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ling Liong Sik.
“This will ensure that we not only do pure transhipment but also engage in value added services for redistribution of cargo before and after Afta,” he said.
He added the free trade zoning would complement the port facilities, such as the empties maintenance and repair, which enabled the main lines to save cost.
Dr Ling also called on freight forwarders to form joint-ventures with global players so that local businessmen could begin to handle regional cargo needs instead of only serving domestic needs.
On increasing the business volume, Dr Ling said transhipment growth was limitless.
“in Java alone, there are 4mil boxes and the Indian Ocean has another 2mil boxes, which can be transhipped out of Port Klang.
“We need only to target 20% of this to gain another million in transhipment,” he said during the forwarders Appreciation Night organized by West Port in Pulau Indah last week.
Dr Ling said he was satisfied with the progress made y the logistics chain serving Port Klang.
He added that the Port Klang community could be truly proud of what they had achieved in the last five years to catapult from the 26th positioning to the 11th positioning in the world. The next aim was to be among the top 10 ports in the world.
“The success we have achieved is due to the close co-operation of all parties.
“I truly appreciate the support and role played by the Customs, Immigration, Health and Marine Departments, including the Harbour Master,” added Dr Ling.