KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 (Bernama) -- The Selangor State Economic Development Corporation (PKNS) has bagged the "State Economic Development Agency Of The Year" award presented by SMI and SME Worldwide Network.

The award is testimony of the commitment and dedication of the staff and management of PKNS.

"This achievement is especially sweet as the year 2009 marked PKNS's 45th anniversary," said General Manager Othman Omar in a statement Saturday.

The award will be presented to PKNS at the "Business of the Year Awards 2009" presentation tomorrow.

PKNS has funded various local social development programmes in rural areas such as the resettlement of squatters and helped the underprivileged in urban areas.

As of 2009, the corporation successfully subsidised the resettlement of 29,000 families in Selangor to the tune of RM130 million.

Othman said PKNS disbursed RM5.85 million towards the "Caring Government Programme", implemented since 2001, and targetted an annual contribution of at least RM1 million.

"PKNS plays an important role as the catalyst and driver of economic development in the state, where today, PKNS can be proud of 11 townships.

"We are confident PKNS will accelerate the development in new areas outside the Klang Valley and continue to upgrade existing ones," he added.

-- BERNAMA