Malacca has achieved a higher level of economic growth when it managed to meet its gross domestic product (GDP) growth target of seven percent last year.

Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Malacca Mohd Khalil Yaakob said the state’s economic performance was also projected to grow higher this year and in the years to come.

“The living standard of the people has also improved as their per capita income increased to RM24,000 last year from only RM16,674 in 2001,” he said when opening the state assembly sitting at Seri Negeri in Malacca today.

Khalil said the tourism and service sectors remained as the largest contributors to the state’s GDP.

“The number of tourist arrivals to Malacca has also increased by 454 percent to 12.2 million last year from only 2.2 million in 2000,” he said.

As such, Khalil said, the tourism environment in the state should be preserved so that its heritage would remain as a major tourist attraction.

“The listing of Malacca at 28th position, out of the 45 destinations in the world that should be visited, by the New York Times is a very proud achievement and recognition,” he said.

Khalil also expressed his appreciation to Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam who had taken various initiatives to boost the state’s economy towards becoming a high-income economy.

“I believe the people of Malacca can clearly see our development and achievement so far, which will become new benchmarks for other states, as well for the provinces in our neighbouring country,” he said.

The state assembly will sit for four days until Thursday.

- Bernama