MELAKA: The Melaka Waterfront Economic Zone (M-WEZ) is among 11 government-related companies to participate at the Dubai Expo in the UAE, starting March 13, says Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali.

       The Melaka Chief Minister said the government anticipates investments of about RM500mil to pour into the state through the expo.

       “Melaka is among the few states that will participate in the expo and we will use it to our advantage,” he said on Wednesday (Feb 17).

       Sulaiman said the state government had also decided to bring along 16 local small and medium enterprises to be part of the expo.

       M-WEZ was launched on April 8 last year to boost the maritime sector as a major economic contributor.

       The new economic zone aims to attract more than RM100bil in high-impact investments over a 15-year period and to create 20,000 jobs annually.

       The M-WEZ will be focused on coastal and reclaimed land running from northern Melaka near Sungai Udang to Umbai in the south.

       The economic zone will have five distinct clusters consisting of the Melaka Habourfront, Smart Logistic Nucleus, Digital Satellite Township, Central Eco Park and Trade Nucleus New Township.

       The state government also hoped to attract investors because of its strategic location along the Straits of Malacca.

       However, some residents living along the coastline had objected to M-WEZ due to its potential impact on the environment.