At a press conference after the symbolic groundbreaking ceremony for the NBL rubber manufacturing plant project here today, Teoh said the facility was expected to attract additional investment of RM5 billion through the support industry and the nitrile rubber industry value chain.

He said following investments by Hong Seng Industries Sdn Bhd, the facility is expected to create more than 1,600 jobs in various fields of expertise, especially for residents around Kedah Rubber City (KRC), namely in Padang Terap.

“This will be a catalyst for economic recovery for those affected by the pandemic,” he said.

He said the facility would be built next year and was expected to be completed in 2024 with a full production capacity of 960 kilotonnes of gloves a year.

“Our company will use advanced technology and comply with international quality standards to meet the growing demand for gloves.”

Hong Seng Industries received an offer letter to re-lease 102.6 acres of industrial land in KRC on June 25 for a period of 60 years for the construction of the NBL manufacturing plant.

Meanwhile, Kedah menteri besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said at today’s ceremony that the Hong Seng Group was KRC’s first investor, and welcomed the company’s move to build a facility there.

He said the project was expected to benefit the local economy and attract investors from within and outside the country based on its long-term investment potential.

KRC, which has now reached 85% construction, developed on a land area of almost 505.86 hectares, is one of the national projects under the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) strategic development plan 2021-2025.