MELAKA: The Melaka state government has given a reduction on the Customs Declaration Form Charge to manufacturers in the Batu Berendam and Tanjung Kling Free Zone Industrial Areas with effect from January next year.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said the Customs Declaration Form Charge was reduced from RM10 to RM6, which involved a total of more than 5,000 Customs declaration forms per month for each manufacturer in the Free Zone Industrial Area.
He said in addition, Inter-Zone Charges in the two Free Zone Industrial Areas were also abolished for the movement of goods between the same company.
"The implementation of this initiative is expected to involve 25 manufacturers or industrial parties in the two Free Zone Industrial Areas in question thus giving them a good return.
"It also indirectly proves that the state government is trying to make Melaka an investor-friendly state in an effort to attract more investment and increase the value of investment in future," he told reporters here today.
He said this after inaugurating the new building of Infineon Technologies (M) Sdn Bhd which was also attended by Infineon Technologies AG chief operating officer Dr Rutger Wijburg.
Ab Rauf said the two initiatives were implemented under Invest Melaka Bhd in an effort to facilitate business and investment in the state in line with the state government's desire to improve the work process to be faster and more efficient.
Meanwhile, in his speech, Ab Rauf said that he is glad that Infineon Technologies Melaka has continuously expanded its operations and enlarged its manufacturing facilities, making it the largest backend manufacturing site for Infineon and the largest employer in the state of Melaka.
He said that to date the workforce has increased to nearly 11,000, making Infineon Technologies one of the main pillars driving local economic growth.
"The Melaka government is fully committed to the future growth and development of the Melaka semiconductor industry, including developing worker skills and improving supply base capabilities.
"We are confident that our efforts will continue to grow for the benefit of all our people and our economic development," he said. --BERNAMA