The ECER, the third economic region launched by the Prime Minister
Bernama.com Malaysian National News Agency
RM6 Bln Allocation For High Impact Projects In ECER Business
October 29, 2007 14:36 PM
KUALA TERENGGANU, Oct 29 (Bernama) — Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Monday announced an allocation of RM6 billion for high impact projects to be implemented in the opening phase of the East Coast Economic Region (ECER).
The Prime Minister said the allocation would be made under a review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) programmes as well as additional allocations during the mid-term review of the 9MP.
"This (allocation) shows the government’s commitment to realise the efforts in bringing development to the ECER in line with the master plan," he said at the launch of the ECER for Terengganu at Taman Awam Batu Burok here today.
He was accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah. Also present were Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, and Kelantan State Exco Member Datuk Husam Musa, who represented Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.
The ECER, involving an investment of RM112 billion, is the third economic region to be launched by the Prime Minister this year, following the Iskandar Development Region (IDR) in Johor and the Northern Corridor Economic Region.
An initiative of national oil and gas corporation Petronas, the ECER covers Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan and the Mersing district in Johor, taking up 66,736 square kilometres or 51 percent of Peninsular Malaysia.
The five major economic thrusts — tourism ; oil, gas and petrochemical ; manufacturing, agriculture ; and education — will be given priority under the ECER plan to raise the incomes and quality of life of about 3.9 million people in the region.
Abdullah also announced the setting up of the ECER Development Council to carry out projects and programmes which have been identified.
He said the council’s main objectives are to expedite and facilitate the development process in the region in a progressive, effective and balanced manner.
"It will also promote the region as a prime destination for business, investment and tourism," he added.
Abdullah said in developing the ECER, it was important to give attention to the implementation, which must move at a rapid pace.
"I want all the parties concerned to be ready to serve the people," he said.
The Prime Minister said the government will provide incentive packages and supporting grants to promote development of the sectors and initiatives identified under the ECER master plan.
Abdullah said as a whole, the ECER plan targeted 227 projects valued at RM112 billion in 12 years to make the region more progressive and dynamic.
He said of the total, the federal government is expected to take up 39 percent while government-linked companies (GLCs) will be involved in 14 percent.
Another 20 percent will come from the private sector and the remaining 27 percent will be from private finance initiatives (PFI).
Up to 43 percent of the overall investment in the ECER will be allocated to improve communications facilities and infrastructure, Abdullah said.
"We are confident that the East Coast people, known for their determination and perseverance, can take up the opportunities arising from the projects to be implemented," he said. The Prime Minister said through the ECER, the government has targeted gross domestic product (GDP) growth for the East Coast at 7.2 percent annually up to 2020 and average household income to be raised from RM2,267 in 2005 to RM5,227 in 12 years with implementation of the plan.
"For all the targets, I am confident and believe we can achieve through the development plan for the region which covers 51 percent of Peninsular Malaysia," he said.
Abdullah said in bringing development to the region, the government will continue to preserve the culture and heritage of the East Coast.
He said each state will have its own development theme under the ECER, with Terengganu as the gateway for tourism and education, Kelantan as the trading and human capital development centre, and Pahang as the manufacturing and logistics hub.
Under the development plan, the number of jobs created will increase from 1.4 million currently to almost two million by 2020 with expanding business opportunities to raise the incomes of the people, he said.
The Prime Minister said to ensure the success of the ECER, the government will focus on developing the economic sector on a cluster basis under the five major economic thrusts.
Abdullah also said that the government will continue to attract investors to set up hotels and holiday resorts of international standard on the East Coast beaches.
"We expect such efforts to attract 7.4 million foreign tourists and 21.4 million local tourists by 2020," he said.
In addition, the manufacturing sector will be given priority as it is expected to contribute 29 percent of the region’s GDP by 2020, Abdullah said.
Attention, he said, will be given to industries based on palm oil, wood and rubber as well as other agricultural produce for the production of oleochemicals, furniture, gloves and halal food, he said.
The prime minister said that through the ECER, the government had targeted gross domestic product (GDP) growth for the East Coast at 7.2 per cent annually up to 2020 and average household income to be raised from RM2,267 in 2005 to RM5,227 in 12 years with implementation of the plan.
"For all the targets, I am confident and believe we can achieve through the development plan for the region which covers 51 per cent of peninsular Malaysia," he said.
Abdullah said that in bringing development to the region, the government would continue to preserve the culture and heritage of the East Coast.
Each state would have its own development theme under the ECER, with Terengganu as the gateway for tourism and education, Kelantan as the trading and human capital development centre, and Pahang as the manufacturing and logistics hub.
Under the development plan, the number of jobs created would increase from 1.4 million currently to almost two million by 2020 with expanding business opportunities to raise the incomes of the people, he said.
The prime minister said that to ensure the success of the ECER, the government would focus on developing the economic sector on a cluster basis under the five major economic thrusts.
He also said that the government would continue to attract investors to set up hotels and holiday resorts of international standard on the East Coast beaches.
"We expect such efforts to attract 7.4 million foreign tourists and 21.4 million local tourists by 2020," he said.
In addition, the manufacturing sector will be given priority as it is expected to contribute 29 per cent of the region’s GDP by 2020, Abdullah said.
Attention, he said, would be given to industries based on palm oil, wood and rubber as well as other agricultural produce for the production of oleochemicals, furniture, gloves and halal food.
The prime minister said that to ensure the success of the ECER, the government would focus on developing the economic sector on a cluster basis under the five major economic thrusts.
He also said that the government would continue to attract investors to set up hotels and holiday resorts of international standard on the East Coast beaches.
"We expect such efforts to attract 7.4 million foreign tourists and 21.4 million local tourists by 2020," he said.
In addition, the manufacturing sector will be given priority as it is expected to contribute 29 per cent of the region’s GDP by 2020, Abdullah said.
Attention, he said, would be given to industries based on palm oil, wood and rubber as well as other agricultural produce for the production of oleochemicals, furniture, gloves and halal food.
Abdullah said that with the strategic location of the ECER in the region, the government would support plans to provide infrastructure aimed at raising its competitiveness.
Among them was a good transport network which would play an important role in the ECER development and for this purpose, existing roads would be identified for repairs or upgrading and new roads would be built.
He added that to improve the shipping network, projects would be carried out to upgrade the ports of Kemaman and Kuantan.
The government was also committed to implementing poverty eradication programmes in the region, particularly hardcore poverty.
Among them were five agropolitan projects whaich were expected to make use of the opportunities to benefit about 14,000 poor families in the East Coast, he said.
He called on people from all strata of society in the East Coast to make use of the opportunities arising from the development for the ECER to succeed.
Abdullah said the government planned to make Kuala Terengganu a centre for information communication technology (ICT) excellence with the setting up of a global animation centre.
The government, he said, would also establish an international digital business exchange at Batu Rakit which will act as the prime Internet exchange for the region.
At today’s ceremony, Abdullah also launched the Kuala Terengganu City Centre (KTCC) and the Garden of Knowledge.
Under the plan, KTCC will be developed as a centre for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (Mice) and a gateway to the ECER while the Garden of Knowledge in Besut will aim to attract students from around the world as a centre of excellence for education and edutourism.
— BERNAMA
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/printable.php?id=292842
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