Perai Free Industrial Zone

 industrial zone, production, free economic zone, free trade zone

The Perai Free Industrial Zone (Perai FIZ) is a duty-free industrial area within the city of Seberang Perai. Located within the Perai suburb, the Perai FIZ lies along the coastline of Perai at the southern bank of Sungai Perai and connected with the island city of George Town via the Penang Bridge. The zone is also adjacent to the Port of Penang's facilities along the coast of Perai, allowing for the shipment of materiel by sea. In comparison to the Bayan Lepas FIZ in George Town, the Perai FIZ is home to heavier forms of manufacturing, food processing, metal fabrication, steel, rubber and petrochemical factories.

Modelled after the Bayan Lepas FIZ, the Perai FIZ was constructed in the 1970s. The establishment of the zone boosted Penang's manufacturing sector, which today contributes over 2/5 of the state's GDP, and led to the rapid development of the Perai suburb. Nearby, the township of Seberang Jaya was also built as a residential area for the zone's employees. Complementing the role of the Bayan Lepas FIZ, the Perai FIZ has successfully provided job opportunities not just for Penangites, but for Malaysians from other states as well.

Among the multinational companies (MNCs) that have established factories and assembly lines within the zone are Chevron, Flex Ltd., Sony, Honeywell, Hitachi, Toshiba, Mattel, Molex and Pensonic.