KUALA LUMPUR: Melaka is set to become a centre of excellence in the field of technology through the construction of the German Technology Park (GTP) .

Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2025 with an infrastructure development investment value of about RM200 million.

Melaka chief minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rauf Yusoh said the project under the Melaka Corporation (MCorp), in collaboration with German industry players, will provide nearly 10,000 job opportunities, consisting of skilled workers produced under the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) scheme.

He added that GTP is a state government initiative that will be developed in collaboration with the private sector.

Among the local companies involved are CY Park Resources Bhd and Teladan Group Bhd.

"In October, they will host a visit with their economy minister during German Week in Melaka, where all industry players, from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to high-tech companies, will come to see the potential of GTP first hand.

"We pray that GTP will catalyse the new economy in Melaka and become a hub for technology transfer in the Southeast Asian region," he noted.

Abdul Rauf also said Melaka is the first state to provide a site for developing German technology in Malaysia.

He added that the state government, together with the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), offers various incentives to ensure the project can be implemented within the set timeframe.

Melaka aims to commence the operations of GTP in 2027.

Abdul Rauf is currently in Hanover, Germany, to meet with technology industry players from the country at the Hanover Messe Expo 2024.

The GTP, developed on a 341-acre site in Ayer Keroh, is expected to attract between 20 and 30 German companies to invest in their respective fields.

https://www.nst.com.my/business/economy/2024/04/1042531/melaka-poised-be-tech-hub-gtp