By Zaki MS
IPOH – Perak is seen as having significant strategic opportunities to develop the rare earth elements (REE) industry as a key driver of the state’s economic growth.
Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said REE is becoming increasingly important to the global economy due to its use in high-technology industries.
These include renewable energy, defence, telecommunications, semiconductors and green transportation.
He said the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) would continue working with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), the state government and relevant agencies to ensure REE development is carried out responsibly and sustainably.
According to him, REE development should not be limited to mining activities and the export of raw materials alone.
Instead, Perak should develop the entire value chain, including REE separation processes and the production of downstream industrial products.
This approach is expected to generate greater economic value for Perak and Malaysia.
Johari said Perak should not merely become a location where REE resources are extracted, but should also become a state that creates and expands value from these resources.
He said this in his speech at Invest In Perak Day 2026 at Hotel Casuarina@Meru, Ipoh, here.
Also present was Perak Menteri Besar, Dato’ Seri Saarani Mohamad.
Elaborating, Johari said close cooperation between the Federal Government, state government, MIDA, InvestPerak, industry players and all stakeholders is crucial to ensuring investment opportunities are translated into economic growth and benefits for the people.
Meanwhile, Saarani said Perak is developing several growth areas, each with its own industrial strengths and focus.
In the north, the Kerian Integrated Green Industrial Park (KIGIP) is opening opportunities for new industries, while Tanjong Malim continues to strengthen its automotive and manufacturing ecosystem through the Automotive High Technology Valley (AHTV), KLK TechPark and Tanjong Malim Hi-Tech Park.
In Kinta, the Silver Valley Technology Park (SVTP) provides space for the expansion of technology-based industries, while the Lumut Maritime Industrial City and Perak Halal Industrial Park have the potential to expand the maritime and halal sectors.
He said industrial development must be supported by adequate road and logistics infrastructure, sufficient water and energy supply, a skilled workforce, strong supply chains and efficient approval processes.
According to Saarani, these efforts require close cooperation with the Federal Government, particularly MITI and MIDA, together with relevant ministries and agencies to ensure Perak has an ecosystem that is fully prepared to receive investments.
