ALOR STAR: The inaugural Ekspo Muafakat Kedah 2018, which kicked off today, showcases achievements by the Barisan Nasional state government and plans for a promising future.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah said the eight-day event is expected to attract almost half a million visitors.
He said Kedahs and visitors could see for themselves the milestones of the state development for the past decade showcased at the 20 exhibition clusters involving 119 government agencies from both federal and state level.
“It also shows that our policies practical and achievable, easy to implement and produces fast results.
“It also shows that we are providing the best services to meet the aspiration of the people and our objective is to diversify the state economic,” Bashah said in his welcoming speech at opening ceremony by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today.
Kedah, said Bashah, has recorded many achievements including in manufacturing industry, agriculture and tourism during the past decades.
“There are many new areas that we can explore including agro-tourism, adventurous tourism, culture and heritage tourism plus health tourism.
“Each district in Kedah has its own local strength for example Kota Setar as the culture and heritage city, Kubang Pasu as knowledge valley while Baling and Padang Terap is known as the cluster of nature,” he said.
Bashah said ‘Muafakat’ is a dominant theme for centuries and spirit of collective has been practice among paddy farmers, which had helped the state to remain as the country 'rice bowl' by producing 37 per cent of the national rice production.
“We will defend the mandate entrusted by the people because our direction is clear.
“We will fulfill the people’s aspiration, listen to the community’s plight and at the same time implement all development agendas for the people,” he said.
The Ekspo Muafakat Kedah 2018 is held at the Stadium Darul Aman compound here from today until March 3.
Among the clusters were Pameran DiRaja, BARAKAH Kedah, Suara Hati, Generasi Muda Pemimpin Negara, Kedah Harmoni, Eko Kedah, Kedah Islami, Bakat Kedah, Kedah Aman, Rangkaian Kedah, Kedah Berdaya Huni, Digital Kedah, Kedah Holistik, Kewangan, Agro Kedah, Kedah Bizz, Warisan dan Pelancongan, Pameran Perkhidmatan, Pameran Daerah and 'Petting Zoo'.
Visitors also stand a chance to win fabulous lucky draw prizes, which included a house, a Perodua Myvi, motorcycles and many other interesting prizes.