Malaysian property developer Tanco Holdings Berhad has partnered with Chinese infrastructure group China Communications Construction Company Limited (CCCC) to develop Malaysia’s first smart artificial intelligence (AI) container port.

Tanco said in a statement on Thursday that the firm through its 79 percent-owned subsidiary Midports Holdings Sdn Bhd has signed a memorandum of understanding with CCCC Dredging (Group) Co. Ltd., a subgroup of CCCC, to develop the port in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan.

According to the agreement, Midports has obtained approval in principle from the Ministry of Transport Malaysia to develop a port in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, named SMART AI Container Port.

This initiative aims to inject new vitality into the local economy and international trade, enhancing the region’s port services.

The construction of this port will contribute to Malaysia’s goal of establishing a modern and efficient port hub, accelerating economic development in Negeri Sembilan and bolstering Malaysia’s global trade position.

This development is further to the joint venture agreement announced on February 27, 2024, between Midports and Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan (Perbadanan) (MBINS) for the reclamation works necessary for the project.

The smart AI container port project, strategically located in Port Dickson along the busy Straits of Malacca, promises significant economic benefits, said the statement.

With a 480-acre landbank owned by Tanco and natural deep water access exceeding 21 meters, it said the port will accommodate the largest container ships in the world, enhancing Malaysia’s maritime capabilities and creating new industrial zones.

“This collaboration with CCCC Dredging marks a pivotal step towards realizing our vision of a world-class port in Port Dickson,

“The expertise and resources brought by CCCC Dredging will ensure the successful implementation of this project, which is set to drive economic growth and create job opportunities in the region,” said Andrew Tan Juan Suan, Group Managing Director of Tanco.

Liu Yongman, Chairman of CCCC Dredging (Group), said that their combined expertise and resources will pave the way for a state-of-the-art port to boost Malaysia’s maritime infrastructure and set new standards in operational efficiency and environmental sustainability.

“We are pleased to partner with Tanco Holdings on this groundbreaking project,

“We are committed to bringing our best capabilities to this strategic initiative and look forward to a successful collaboration,” he added.

According to the statement, the proposed smart AI container port will incorporate cutting-edge technologies to optimize logistics, enhance operational efficiency, and minimize environmental impact.

This development will improve maritime logistics for transhipment and gateway containers and also contribute to the development of industrial hubs, fostering economic growth in Negeri Sembilan.

Tanco, originally known as Jeram Kuantan (Malaya) Ltd, is a listed property developer in Malaysia.

The firm owns a vast landbank and has diversified business activities in property development, construction, construction materials supply, pharmaceuticals, and now port development.

CCCC Dredging is a ultra-large infrastructure comprehensive service provider.

The firm operates nearly 200 vessels with an annual dredging capacity exceeding 800 million cubic meters.

Its notable projects include the Tianjin Port, Yangshan Deep Water Port, and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

Princeton Digital Group secures $280M green loan for AI-ready data center campus in Malaysia