Longhua teams up with Malaysia's Kedah

Longhua District and Malaysia’s Kedah Kubang Pasu District officially signed a friendship agreement on July 20 at the Longhua International Cooperation Center(LICC) , marking a new milestone in the regional cooperation between China and Malaysia.

The signing ceremony was held alongside an industry exchange, drawing senior officials including Wang Wei, vice mayor of Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government and secretary of the CPC Longhua District Committee, and Haim Hilman bin Abdullah, Kedah state executive councilor. Delegates from government agencies and business communities on both sides attended.

YB. Prof. Dr. Haim Hilman bin Abdullah, Kedah State Executive Councilor, makes a presentation at LICC. Photos courtesy of LICC

Kedah promoted its flagship "DERAS" initiative, positioning the project as a strategic entrance for Shenzhen enterprises seeking access to ASEAN markets. The initiative aims to build industrial parks and digital infrastructure in Kedah.

Kedah will set up its first investment laison office in China at LICC, offering businesses in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area a gateway to Southeast Asian markets. The office will provide one-stop services including policy consultation and resources matchmaking.

YB. Prof. Dr. Haim Hilman bin Abdullah experiences tech products on display at the LICC along with other Malaysian government officials.

Bin Abdullah cited political stability, a skilled workforce and strategic location as Kedah's core advantages.

Located on the Malaysia-Thailand border, Kedah is home to one of the country's two national-level special economic zones. The other is the Johor-Singapore economic zone.

"The land price is competitive compared to other industrial parks in the country," he said, adding that Kedah is also free from natural hazards like typhoons and earthquakes, adding to its appeal for manufacturers.

Representatives of Longhua District and Malaysia's Kedah Kubang Pasu District sign a friendship agreement at LICC.

Bin Abdullah particularly mentioned Huawei and DJI, praising Huawei's HarmonyOS operating system and its cross-industry applications. He described DJI's drone technology as a key sector for future growth and expressed interest in working with Shenzhen’s AI companies.

"With the signing of this agreement, we wish to learn from Longhua and Shenzhen to build a region into a national economic powerhouse," he said. He also expressed interest in joining upcoming APEC events, calling it a platform to promote Kedah and build ties with Chinese companies.