BAYAN Lepas and Batu Maung in Penang’s southwest district and Batu Kawan in the south Seberang Prai district will be the new corridors of growth to boost the state?s development, said investPenang executive committee chairman Datuk Lee Kah Choon.

He said projects coming up at these places were the RM300mil Subterranean Penang International Convention and Exhibition Centre (sPICE), the Bayan Mutiara mixed-development project and Batu Kawan?s planned development as an integrated city.

“sPICE, under a public-private partnership agreement with SP Setia Bhd, will have a Penang People’s Park that includes the country’s first subterranean convention and exhibition centre,” he said in his talk titled “Live Market Update ” What is the future for Penang” at the Star Property Fair 2011.

There will also be a seven-acre public park on the rooftop, a refurbished Penang International Sports Arena, an aquatic centre and a four-star hotel with retail outlets.

“The project is scheduled for completion by 2014.”

“The Bayan Mutiara mixed-development project on a 40ha site will see the creation of presti-gious offices, special medical fa- cilities, commercial blocks, resi-dential enclaves, and retail and public spaces meeting contemporary and iconic global standards,” Lee said.

He said the planned development of Batu Kawan included the next Penang industrial park.

The plan is to turn Batu Kawan into an integrated city with residential, commercial and business zones incorporating education, leisure and medical facilities.

“These developments will create new jobs and spillover economic effects,” he said.

Lee also said recent investments by Bosch Solar Energy, Aviatron and Ibiden would generate new jobs for small-medium vendors in Penang.

Last month, Bosch announced a RM2.2b investment in a crystalline solar cells plant in Batu Kawan.

“Aviatron and Ibiden announced their investments in avionics components and a printed circuit board facility respectively in April,” he said.

SOURCE: The Star