MIEL has signed a long-term agreement to sub-lease 3ha.

The 24+30-year sub-lease allows MIEL to construct a 100,000 sq ft warehouse complete with all the basic facilities of a modern distribution center.

The investment, expected to be around RM20mil, is part of MIEL’s strategic move into the logistics business in the country’s fastest growing port.

To accelerate its involvement in logistics, MIEL has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with world-renowned logistics services provider Mayne Nickless Logistics (MNL).

Both companies will jointly develop a regional distribution center by capitalising on PTP’s Distripark Free Zone status.

MIEL is also aggressively evaluating potential sites in its landbank for possible conversion into logistics and distribution parks.

MNL, incorporated in Malaysia under the name On-line Distribution Services Sdn Bhd, is part of Australian-based Mayne Nickless.

MNL has a share in the global network servicing a large clientele of multinational companies especially in fast moving consumer goods and the healthcare business.

At a brief signing ceremony held at PTP on Friday, MIEL Chief Executive Officer Azmi Thambi Chik said the strategic presence in PTP provided them an excellent new business opportunity, particularly in logistics.

“We are confident we can complement the role of PTP in promoting Malaysia as a regional hub.”

PTP Chief Executive Officer Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman said the addition of MIEL and MNL to the port’s list of clientele would result in the rapid realization of their vision to establish a high-end distribution park within PTP.

“We are confident it will assist in generating more warehousing and consolidation opportunities for local shippers so that they utilize PTP as their port-of-call.”

Meanwhile, PTP received recognition for its public relations campaign with the award of a Certificate of Merit from the Institute of Public Relations Malaysia (IPRM).

PTP, which began its brand building campaign in April 1999, managed to achieve a significant level of local and international awareness after less than a year.

In a press release, PTP said the objective of its brand building campaign was to establish a corporate image from zero-base to attract potential strategic partners and customers.

The end result of PTP’s public relations campaign had seen the securing of Maersk Sealand as a strategic partner and finally achieve Malaysian’s goal of reducing cargo leakage to regional ports.

In its third year of implementation, the campaign’s conceptual planning involved a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis of the port.

This resulted in the creation of the Reliable-Efficient-Advanced tagline.

The release said the campaign was launched on the premise of achieving high visibility while maintaining consistency.

In-depth research of target audiences, including the sampling of thoughts and perceptions, was carried out.

Periodical assessments with the help of trade journalists proved successful in obtaining valuable feedback midway through the campaign.

Through familiarization visits and the implementation of an interactive website, the information flow proved to be direct and continuous.

The success of the campaign was realized when PTP secured Maersk Sealand as a strategic partner guaranteeing business volume surpassing all expected projections.

The IPRM Certificate of Merit market PTP’s second award with the first begin Lloyd’s List’s Best Emerging Port.