Eastern Region News
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January 30, 2009 14:27 PM
Terengganu Records 3.53 Million Tourists Arrivals Last Year
KUALA TERENGGANU, Jan 30 (Bernama) -- Terengganu recorded 3.528 million in tourist arrivals during the Visit Terengganu Year last year, a 24 per cent increase compared to 2.8 million in 2007.
State executive councillor for tourism, culture, arts and heritage Datuk Za'abar Mohd Adib said the increase was due to the various programmes held throughout the year, including the squid fishing competition, Royal Terengganu Endurance Race, Monsoon Cup and the Rainforest Challenge.
Of the total tourist arrivals, some 380,000 were from Singapore, China, Taiwan and Europe.
"Terengganu has already received thousands of visitors this year, mostly during the Islamic Civilisation Park opening," he told Bernama.
He said Terengganu had set the target of achieving four million arrivals this year.
Various programmes had been arranged to promote Terengganu, including a roadshow each in Penang and Singapore apart from putting up advertisements at the KL International Airport, he said.
-- BERNAMA
Saturday, January 31, 2009
29-01-2009: Quail farming takes flight in ECER
29-01-2009: Quail farming takes flight in ECER
Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com
BANDAR JENGKA: The integration of livestock in oil palm plantations is set to boost economic activity for oil palm farmers as part of the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) master plan.
Quail breeders at Felda Jengka 15 in Pahang were increasing output to meet high domestic and export demand for quail meat and eggs, which has increased by 20% to 25% annually since 1995, said ECER secretariat in a statement yesterday.
It added the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) provided loans to help breeders begin farming of the game bird to supplement their income.
Crude palm oil (CPO) prices had been hovering at below RM2,000 a tonne, down from a record high of RM4,486 per tonne in 2008 with industry players estimating the break-even point for smallholders at RM1,500 per tonne.
- The Edge Daily -
Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com
BANDAR JENGKA: The integration of livestock in oil palm plantations is set to boost economic activity for oil palm farmers as part of the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) master plan.
Quail breeders at Felda Jengka 15 in Pahang were increasing output to meet high domestic and export demand for quail meat and eggs, which has increased by 20% to 25% annually since 1995, said ECER secretariat in a statement yesterday.
It added the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) provided loans to help breeders begin farming of the game bird to supplement their income.
Crude palm oil (CPO) prices had been hovering at below RM2,000 a tonne, down from a record high of RM4,486 per tonne in 2008 with industry players estimating the break-even point for smallholders at RM1,500 per tonne.
- The Edge Daily -
RM10mil ECER Gold Coast Development In Pahang
January 22, 2009 17:24 PM
RM10mil ECER Gold Coast Development In Pahang
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 22 (Bernama) -- Gold Coast Kuantan Resort Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of the STG Group, is investing RM10 million in its first property development in the East Coast Economic Region (ECER).
In a statement today, the company said the development consisting 99 apartment suites, has a view of the South China Sea and provides full hotel services.
STG group chairman Datuk Dr Alex Tan Siong Seng said Gold Coast Kuantan not only offers a beautiful view but also a good return on investment.
The project is expected to be completed by 2010.
Tan said owners can expect a capital appreciation of 40 percent, five years from the date of purchase.
The STG group is targeting to be listed by 2012.
-- BERNAMA
RM10mil ECER Gold Coast Development In Pahang
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 22 (Bernama) -- Gold Coast Kuantan Resort Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of the STG Group, is investing RM10 million in its first property development in the East Coast Economic Region (ECER).
In a statement today, the company said the development consisting 99 apartment suites, has a view of the South China Sea and provides full hotel services.
STG group chairman Datuk Dr Alex Tan Siong Seng said Gold Coast Kuantan not only offers a beautiful view but also a good return on investment.
The project is expected to be completed by 2010.
Tan said owners can expect a capital appreciation of 40 percent, five years from the date of purchase.
The STG group is targeting to be listed by 2012.
-- BERNAMA
Quail Rearing Taking Roost In East Coast
Eastern Region News
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January 28, 2009 17:43 PM
Quail Rearing Taking Roost In East Coast
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 (Bernama) -- Quail rearing is taking roost in the East Coast, with breeders at Felda Jengka 15, Bandar Jengka, Pahang, boosting output to meet high demand for the game bird.
Since 1995, the demand for quail soared by 20 to 25 percent a year, the East Coast Economic Region secretariat said in a statement today.
It said under the ECER master plan, an economic activity to increase oil palm farmers' income is through the integration of livestock in the oil palm plantations.
"Felda farmers have taken this one step further to tap into rising demand for quail meat and eggs," it said.
ECER said one of the settlers, Samad Puhalus, 56, who has been rearing quails for eight years, says quail rearing is a lucrative business, spurring him to increase his monthly output to 10,000 birds.
"I used to rear quails on a part-time basis to meet my family's needs. After a year, consumer demand prompted me to commercialise my quail rearing.
"Quail rearing is proving to be quite lucrative, equal to tending other animals. The support given by Felda is also very encouraging," he said.
Felda has loaned Samad an initial sum of RM9,000 to start the quail business and the amount was repaid in six years, ECER said.
"A ready-to-market bird can fetch between RM13 and RM15 a kilo, quail eggs are sold at 10 sen an egg while young chicks are sold between 60 sen and RM2.50 per bird," it said.
Demand for quails on the international level has also been rising. In Abu Dhabi, the Al Semman Farm in Al Ain is producing 15,000 quails per week, but says it will have to increase production by more than three times to satisfy customer demand in the Emirates alone, it said.
The farm aims at increasing production to 50,000 per week and expects to reach 200,000 quails per month by end of this year.
"In France, Italy, the United States and several countries in South America such as Brazil and Chile, as well as throughout Asia, it is the meat that is consumed.
"It is particularly delicious when charcoal-broiled. One company in Spain annually processes 20 million quails for meat," it said.
ECER said Malaysia has begun a project aimed at producing a new poultry bird, a cross between a cockerel and a hen quail.
Meanwhile, Zainal Mohd Noor from the Kuala Lumpur Veterinary Services Department is creating a strain that produces eggs of good quality and meat with the flavour of both parents, it said.
The new bird is intermediate in size between chicken and quail which is convenient because it is about right for an individual helping, it added.
-- BERNAMA
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January 28, 2009 17:43 PM
Quail Rearing Taking Roost In East Coast
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 (Bernama) -- Quail rearing is taking roost in the East Coast, with breeders at Felda Jengka 15, Bandar Jengka, Pahang, boosting output to meet high demand for the game bird.
Since 1995, the demand for quail soared by 20 to 25 percent a year, the East Coast Economic Region secretariat said in a statement today.
It said under the ECER master plan, an economic activity to increase oil palm farmers' income is through the integration of livestock in the oil palm plantations.
"Felda farmers have taken this one step further to tap into rising demand for quail meat and eggs," it said.
ECER said one of the settlers, Samad Puhalus, 56, who has been rearing quails for eight years, says quail rearing is a lucrative business, spurring him to increase his monthly output to 10,000 birds.
"I used to rear quails on a part-time basis to meet my family's needs. After a year, consumer demand prompted me to commercialise my quail rearing.
"Quail rearing is proving to be quite lucrative, equal to tending other animals. The support given by Felda is also very encouraging," he said.
Felda has loaned Samad an initial sum of RM9,000 to start the quail business and the amount was repaid in six years, ECER said.
"A ready-to-market bird can fetch between RM13 and RM15 a kilo, quail eggs are sold at 10 sen an egg while young chicks are sold between 60 sen and RM2.50 per bird," it said.
Demand for quails on the international level has also been rising. In Abu Dhabi, the Al Semman Farm in Al Ain is producing 15,000 quails per week, but says it will have to increase production by more than three times to satisfy customer demand in the Emirates alone, it said.
The farm aims at increasing production to 50,000 per week and expects to reach 200,000 quails per month by end of this year.
"In France, Italy, the United States and several countries in South America such as Brazil and Chile, as well as throughout Asia, it is the meat that is consumed.
"It is particularly delicious when charcoal-broiled. One company in Spain annually processes 20 million quails for meat," it said.
ECER said Malaysia has begun a project aimed at producing a new poultry bird, a cross between a cockerel and a hen quail.
Meanwhile, Zainal Mohd Noor from the Kuala Lumpur Veterinary Services Department is creating a strain that produces eggs of good quality and meat with the flavour of both parents, it said.
The new bird is intermediate in size between chicken and quail which is convenient because it is about right for an individual helping, it added.
-- BERNAMA
One-Stop Centre In Every ECER State - PM
January 13, 2009 21:06 PM
One-Stop Centre In Every ECER State - PM
BENTONG, Jan 13 (Bernama) -- An East Coast Economic Corridor one-stop centre will be set in every state and another centre in the federal capital to facilitate investors to get information on the progress of ECER projects and to enable them to make applications to invest in the economic corridors.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the one-stop centres would serve as a liaison centre for existing and potential investors to smoothen their investment procedures and ECER development.
"With the operational of the centres, investors need not go to the Treasury, the Economic Planning Unit in the Prime Minister's Department, the federal administrative centre in Putrajaya and other places to get information and make applications.
"The one-stop centre will be set up in Kuala Lumpur soon and in the ECER states -- Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Johor," he told reporters after chairing the ECER Development Council meeting here on Tuesday.
On the progress of ECER projects, the prime minister said up till the Mid-Term Review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, the ECER had identified 107 projects involving investments worth RM2.6 billion.
Of the total, 48 projects started last year, 29 will begin middle of this year, 22 will be implemented before end of this year while the remaining eight projects early this year, he said.
"I am very satisfied with the progress and the running of the ECER because of the good cooperation received from all the state governments involved, including Kelantan which is under the opposition rule.
"All the states are cooperating very well," he said.
Asked whether ECER projects would be stopped in view of the current economic uncertainties, Abdullah said the projects were progressing smoothly and would not be stopped.
"The projects must be continued as they are part of the government's initiatives to eradicate abject poverty in the states concerned.
The projects will open job opportunities for the locals residing in and around the economic corridors," he said.
"The government is confident that projects under the ECER such as the agropolitan, tourism, homestay and permanent food production park will yield direct benefits to boost the income of the hardcore poor," he added.
-- BERNAMA
One-Stop Centre In Every ECER State - PM
BENTONG, Jan 13 (Bernama) -- An East Coast Economic Corridor one-stop centre will be set in every state and another centre in the federal capital to facilitate investors to get information on the progress of ECER projects and to enable them to make applications to invest in the economic corridors.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the one-stop centres would serve as a liaison centre for existing and potential investors to smoothen their investment procedures and ECER development.
"With the operational of the centres, investors need not go to the Treasury, the Economic Planning Unit in the Prime Minister's Department, the federal administrative centre in Putrajaya and other places to get information and make applications.
"The one-stop centre will be set up in Kuala Lumpur soon and in the ECER states -- Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Johor," he told reporters after chairing the ECER Development Council meeting here on Tuesday.
On the progress of ECER projects, the prime minister said up till the Mid-Term Review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, the ECER had identified 107 projects involving investments worth RM2.6 billion.
Of the total, 48 projects started last year, 29 will begin middle of this year, 22 will be implemented before end of this year while the remaining eight projects early this year, he said.
"I am very satisfied with the progress and the running of the ECER because of the good cooperation received from all the state governments involved, including Kelantan which is under the opposition rule.
"All the states are cooperating very well," he said.
Asked whether ECER projects would be stopped in view of the current economic uncertainties, Abdullah said the projects were progressing smoothly and would not be stopped.
"The projects must be continued as they are part of the government's initiatives to eradicate abject poverty in the states concerned.
The projects will open job opportunities for the locals residing in and around the economic corridors," he said.
"The government is confident that projects under the ECER such as the agropolitan, tourism, homestay and permanent food production park will yield direct benefits to boost the income of the hardcore poor," he added.
-- BERNAMA
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Syarikat Wilayah Timur Disaran Mendaftar Dengan Matrade
15 Januari, 2009 20:32 PM
Syarikat Wilayah Timur Disaran Mendaftar Dengan Matrade
KUALA TERENGGANU, 15 Jan (Bernama) -- Syarikat di negara ini disaran menggunakan kemudahan yang disediakan Perbadanan Pembangunan Perdagangan Luar Malaysia (MATRADE) dalam usaha menembusi pasaran antarabangsa yang semakin kompetitif, kata Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Beliau berkata menerusi 39 rangkaian pejabat di bandar-bandar perdagangan utama seluruh dunia, MATRADE menyediakan pelbagai kemudahan, termasuk jaringan perdagangan dan maklumat pasaran, supaya pengeksport tempatan lebih berdaya saing dalam bidang eksport.
"Menjadi hasrat kerajaan melalui MATRADE untuk meningkatkan bilangan syarikat tempatan yang mempunyai keupayaan meneroka pasaran eksport. Oleh yang demikian, saya berharap lebih banyak penyertaan dari syarikat di Wilayah Timur berdaftar dengan MATRADE.
"Selain daripada menerima maklumat perdagangan, syarikat ini akan dibimbing menjadi pengeksport yang berwibawa di pasaran global. Sejumlah 319 syarikat dari Terengganu, Kelantan dan Pahang telah berdaftar dengan MATRADE. Bilangan itu masih kecil jika dibandingkan dengan sejumlah 14,000 syarikat yang telah berdaftar dengan perbadanan itu," katanya.
Beliau berkata demikian semasa merasmikan Pejabat MATRADE Wilayah Timur, di sini, hari ini. Teks ucapannya dibacakan Timbalan Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri, Datuk Liew Vui Keong.
Muhyiddin berkata pejabat MATRADE Wilayah Timur akan membantu pengeksport Malaysia menceburi pasaran global melalui penyebaran maklumat dan risikan pasaran serta program promosi.
Muhyiddin berkata pembukaan pejabat wilayah timur itu menunjukkan komitmen kerajaan untuk membantu pengeksport tempatan, terutama dari negeri Terengganu, untuk terus memasarkan produk serta perkhidmatan mereka ke luar negara.
"Walaupun dalam keadaan ekonomi dunia yang tidak menentu, kerajaan melalui MATRADE meneruskan inisiatifnya untuk mengembangkan rangkaian di kawasan pantai timur yang merangkumi negeri Pahang, Terengganu dan Kelantan.
"Pembukaan pejabat di Terengganu ini mencerminkan potensi negeri ini dari segi industri, perdagangan, pelaburan dan pelancongan, selain kekayaan sumber aslinya," kata beliau.
Selain di Kuala Terengganu, MATRADE kini mempunyai lima cawangan di seluruh negara iaitu Pulau Pinang, Johor, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, dan Kuching, Sarawak.
Menurut beliau, beberapa kemudahan dan inisiatif akan disediakan MATRADE kepada komuniti perniagaan di wilayah timur, seperti akses kepada peluang dalam pasaran tradisional serta pasaran baru, risikan perniagaan terkini dan maklumat pasaran dalam media cetak serta elektronik serta memudahkan penyertaan syarikat di Wilayah Timur dalam aktiviti promosi perdagangan luar negara.
"Kemampuan syarikat Terengganu bukan terhad kepada sektor tradisi sahaja malah merangkumi peluang-peluang mengeksport barangan bukan tradisi dan bernilai tinggi seperti teknologi maklumat dan komunikasi serta perkhidmatan pembinaan.
"Dalam Perancangan projek Pembangunan Wilayah Ekonomi Pantai Timur (ECER), sektor yang akan dibangunkan selain minyak dan gas, termasuk sektor perkilangan, pertanian, pelancongan dan pendidikan. Kesemua sektor ini mempunyai potensi eksport yang baik," katanya.
Muhyiddin berkata dalam usaha menggalakkan syarikat Malaysia menyertai aktiviti promosi di pasaran tempatan dan antarabangsa dalam menangani kelembapan ekonomi global, MATRADE telah mengambil tindakan memperluaskan dan melonggarkan skop Geran Pembangunan Pasaran (MDG), antaranya meningkatkan kelayakan maksimum bagi penyediaan bahan promosi syarikat daripada RM30,000 kepada RM100,000.
Selain itu, MATRADE juga menaikkan kelayakan tuntutan bagi kos penginapan dan tiket penerbangan dari seorang kepada dua orang bagi syarikat dan persatuan serta dewan perniagaan serta menaikkan kelayakan tuntutan bagi kos pembinaan dan penambahbaikan gerai daripada 50 peratus kepada 100 peratus, daripada kos layak penyewaan gerai.
-- BERNAMA
Syarikat Wilayah Timur Disaran Mendaftar Dengan Matrade
KUALA TERENGGANU, 15 Jan (Bernama) -- Syarikat di negara ini disaran menggunakan kemudahan yang disediakan Perbadanan Pembangunan Perdagangan Luar Malaysia (MATRADE) dalam usaha menembusi pasaran antarabangsa yang semakin kompetitif, kata Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Beliau berkata menerusi 39 rangkaian pejabat di bandar-bandar perdagangan utama seluruh dunia, MATRADE menyediakan pelbagai kemudahan, termasuk jaringan perdagangan dan maklumat pasaran, supaya pengeksport tempatan lebih berdaya saing dalam bidang eksport.
"Menjadi hasrat kerajaan melalui MATRADE untuk meningkatkan bilangan syarikat tempatan yang mempunyai keupayaan meneroka pasaran eksport. Oleh yang demikian, saya berharap lebih banyak penyertaan dari syarikat di Wilayah Timur berdaftar dengan MATRADE.
"Selain daripada menerima maklumat perdagangan, syarikat ini akan dibimbing menjadi pengeksport yang berwibawa di pasaran global. Sejumlah 319 syarikat dari Terengganu, Kelantan dan Pahang telah berdaftar dengan MATRADE. Bilangan itu masih kecil jika dibandingkan dengan sejumlah 14,000 syarikat yang telah berdaftar dengan perbadanan itu," katanya.
Beliau berkata demikian semasa merasmikan Pejabat MATRADE Wilayah Timur, di sini, hari ini. Teks ucapannya dibacakan Timbalan Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri, Datuk Liew Vui Keong.
Muhyiddin berkata pejabat MATRADE Wilayah Timur akan membantu pengeksport Malaysia menceburi pasaran global melalui penyebaran maklumat dan risikan pasaran serta program promosi.
Muhyiddin berkata pembukaan pejabat wilayah timur itu menunjukkan komitmen kerajaan untuk membantu pengeksport tempatan, terutama dari negeri Terengganu, untuk terus memasarkan produk serta perkhidmatan mereka ke luar negara.
"Walaupun dalam keadaan ekonomi dunia yang tidak menentu, kerajaan melalui MATRADE meneruskan inisiatifnya untuk mengembangkan rangkaian di kawasan pantai timur yang merangkumi negeri Pahang, Terengganu dan Kelantan.
"Pembukaan pejabat di Terengganu ini mencerminkan potensi negeri ini dari segi industri, perdagangan, pelaburan dan pelancongan, selain kekayaan sumber aslinya," kata beliau.
Selain di Kuala Terengganu, MATRADE kini mempunyai lima cawangan di seluruh negara iaitu Pulau Pinang, Johor, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, dan Kuching, Sarawak.
Menurut beliau, beberapa kemudahan dan inisiatif akan disediakan MATRADE kepada komuniti perniagaan di wilayah timur, seperti akses kepada peluang dalam pasaran tradisional serta pasaran baru, risikan perniagaan terkini dan maklumat pasaran dalam media cetak serta elektronik serta memudahkan penyertaan syarikat di Wilayah Timur dalam aktiviti promosi perdagangan luar negara.
"Kemampuan syarikat Terengganu bukan terhad kepada sektor tradisi sahaja malah merangkumi peluang-peluang mengeksport barangan bukan tradisi dan bernilai tinggi seperti teknologi maklumat dan komunikasi serta perkhidmatan pembinaan.
"Dalam Perancangan projek Pembangunan Wilayah Ekonomi Pantai Timur (ECER), sektor yang akan dibangunkan selain minyak dan gas, termasuk sektor perkilangan, pertanian, pelancongan dan pendidikan. Kesemua sektor ini mempunyai potensi eksport yang baik," katanya.
Muhyiddin berkata dalam usaha menggalakkan syarikat Malaysia menyertai aktiviti promosi di pasaran tempatan dan antarabangsa dalam menangani kelembapan ekonomi global, MATRADE telah mengambil tindakan memperluaskan dan melonggarkan skop Geran Pembangunan Pasaran (MDG), antaranya meningkatkan kelayakan maksimum bagi penyediaan bahan promosi syarikat daripada RM30,000 kepada RM100,000.
Selain itu, MATRADE juga menaikkan kelayakan tuntutan bagi kos penginapan dan tiket penerbangan dari seorang kepada dua orang bagi syarikat dan persatuan serta dewan perniagaan serta menaikkan kelayakan tuntutan bagi kos pembinaan dan penambahbaikan gerai daripada 50 peratus kepada 100 peratus, daripada kos layak penyewaan gerai.
-- BERNAMA
Economic slowdown will not hurt ECER
2009/01/14
Economic slowdown will not hurt ECER
BENTONG: Projects of the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) will not be affected by the economic slowdown.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the government wanted the initiative to proceed smoothly as it would benefit those living within ECER, including those in remote areas.
The ECER development corridor covers Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan and Mersing district in Johor.
Under the midterm review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, Abdullah said 107 projects worth RM2.6 billion had been identified in the ECER.
Forty-eight of the projects commenced last year while 29 would begin in June. Another 22 projects would start by the end of the year followed by eight more early next year.
Abdullah said the ECER development council had also agreed to set up a one-stop centre to fast track applications and approvals for new investments.
"The main centre will be in Kuala Lumpur with branch offices in each participating state," he said after chairing the third ECER council meeting at the district office here yesterday.
Present were Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman and ECER development council chief executive officer Datuk Jebasingam Issace John.
- NST Online -
Economic slowdown will not hurt ECER
BENTONG: Projects of the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) will not be affected by the economic slowdown.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the government wanted the initiative to proceed smoothly as it would benefit those living within ECER, including those in remote areas.
The ECER development corridor covers Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan and Mersing district in Johor.
Under the midterm review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, Abdullah said 107 projects worth RM2.6 billion had been identified in the ECER.
Forty-eight of the projects commenced last year while 29 would begin in June. Another 22 projects would start by the end of the year followed by eight more early next year.
Abdullah said the ECER development council had also agreed to set up a one-stop centre to fast track applications and approvals for new investments.
"The main centre will be in Kuala Lumpur with branch offices in each participating state," he said after chairing the third ECER council meeting at the district office here yesterday.
Present were Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman and ECER development council chief executive officer Datuk Jebasingam Issace John.
- NST Online -
One-Stop Centre In Every ECER State - PM
January 13, 2009 21:06 PM
One-Stop Centre In Every ECER State - PM
BENTONG, Jan 13 (Bernama) -- An East Coast Economic Corridor one-stop centre will be set in every state and another centre in the federal capital to facilitate investors to get information on the progress of ECER projects and to enable them to make applications to invest in the economic corridors.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the one-stop centres would serve as a liaison centre for existing and potential investors to smoothen their investment procedures and ECER development.
"With the operational of the centres, investors need not go to the Treasury, the Economic Planning Unit in the Prime Minister's Department, the federal administrative centre in Putrajaya and other places to get information and make applications.
"The one-stop centre will be set up in Kuala Lumpur soon and in the ECER states -- Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Johor," he told reporters after chairing the ECER Development Council meeting here on Tuesday.
On the progress of ECER projects, the prime minister said up till the Mid-Term Review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, the ECER had identified 107 projects involving investments worth RM2.6 billion.
Of the total, 48 projects started last year, 29 will begin middle of this year, 22 will be implemented before end of this year while the remaining eight projects early this year, he said.
"I am very satisfied with the progress and the running of the ECER because of the good cooperation received from all the state governments involved, including Kelantan which is under the opposition rule.
"All the states are cooperating very well," he said.
Asked whether ECER projects would be stopped in view of the current economic uncertainties, Abdullah said the projects were progressing smoothly and would not be stopped.
"The projects must be continued as they are part of the government's initiatives to eradicate abject poverty in the states concerned.
The projects will open job opportunities for the locals residing in and around the economic corridors," he said.
"The government is confident that projects under the ECER such as the agropolitan, tourism, homestay and permanent food production park will yield direct benefits to boost the income of the hardcore poor," he added.
-- BERNAMA
One-Stop Centre In Every ECER State - PM
BENTONG, Jan 13 (Bernama) -- An East Coast Economic Corridor one-stop centre will be set in every state and another centre in the federal capital to facilitate investors to get information on the progress of ECER projects and to enable them to make applications to invest in the economic corridors.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the one-stop centres would serve as a liaison centre for existing and potential investors to smoothen their investment procedures and ECER development.
"With the operational of the centres, investors need not go to the Treasury, the Economic Planning Unit in the Prime Minister's Department, the federal administrative centre in Putrajaya and other places to get information and make applications.
"The one-stop centre will be set up in Kuala Lumpur soon and in the ECER states -- Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Johor," he told reporters after chairing the ECER Development Council meeting here on Tuesday.
On the progress of ECER projects, the prime minister said up till the Mid-Term Review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, the ECER had identified 107 projects involving investments worth RM2.6 billion.
Of the total, 48 projects started last year, 29 will begin middle of this year, 22 will be implemented before end of this year while the remaining eight projects early this year, he said.
"I am very satisfied with the progress and the running of the ECER because of the good cooperation received from all the state governments involved, including Kelantan which is under the opposition rule.
"All the states are cooperating very well," he said.
Asked whether ECER projects would be stopped in view of the current economic uncertainties, Abdullah said the projects were progressing smoothly and would not be stopped.
"The projects must be continued as they are part of the government's initiatives to eradicate abject poverty in the states concerned.
The projects will open job opportunities for the locals residing in and around the economic corridors," he said.
"The government is confident that projects under the ECER such as the agropolitan, tourism, homestay and permanent food production park will yield direct benefits to boost the income of the hardcore poor," he added.
-- BERNAMA
Abdullah Asks Big Agri Developers To Help The Small
January 13, 2009 15:32 PM
Abdullah Asks Big Agri Developers To Help The Small
TEMERLOH, Jan 13 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today called on developers of large-scale and high-impact agricultural projects to assist smallholders in the same field to consolidate the food production industry in the country.
The prime minister said the conglomerates could allow the smallholders to ride on their projects to develop the industry together for greater competitiveness.
"Small entrepreneurs who own two, three or 10 hectares of land can be helped in terms of crops, fertilizer, seedlings and management, and their produce can be bought by the large farms," he said when launching the Permanent Food Production Park and Lanchang Modern Agriculture Park near here.
His wife, Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed and several Cabinet ministers and Pahang state executive councillors were also present at the event.
Abdullah said it would be difficult for the small farmers to garner better returns if they worked independently.
The Permanent Food Production Park is a high-impact project implemented on 3,600 hectares under the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) development corridor, with the focus on vegetables and fruits including papaya, jackfruit, pineapple and starfruit.
Abdullah also said that fruit production efforts must give value added to the industry by diversifying the by-products.
This was one way of overcoming a glut of fruits in the market during a period of good harvest, he added.
Citing an example, he said the seeds of the jackfruit could be used to produce by-products, and called for stepping up of research in the area.
Abdullah said the government's focus on the agricultural industry was necessary as part of the government's efforts to ensure sufficient supply of food for the country.
He said that with good planning and implementation, it was not impossible for Malaysia to become a large food producer like the Netherlands.
-- BERNAMA
Abdullah Asks Big Agri Developers To Help The Small
TEMERLOH, Jan 13 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today called on developers of large-scale and high-impact agricultural projects to assist smallholders in the same field to consolidate the food production industry in the country.
The prime minister said the conglomerates could allow the smallholders to ride on their projects to develop the industry together for greater competitiveness.
"Small entrepreneurs who own two, three or 10 hectares of land can be helped in terms of crops, fertilizer, seedlings and management, and their produce can be bought by the large farms," he said when launching the Permanent Food Production Park and Lanchang Modern Agriculture Park near here.
His wife, Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed and several Cabinet ministers and Pahang state executive councillors were also present at the event.
Abdullah said it would be difficult for the small farmers to garner better returns if they worked independently.
The Permanent Food Production Park is a high-impact project implemented on 3,600 hectares under the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) development corridor, with the focus on vegetables and fruits including papaya, jackfruit, pineapple and starfruit.
Abdullah also said that fruit production efforts must give value added to the industry by diversifying the by-products.
This was one way of overcoming a glut of fruits in the market during a period of good harvest, he added.
Citing an example, he said the seeds of the jackfruit could be used to produce by-products, and called for stepping up of research in the area.
Abdullah said the government's focus on the agricultural industry was necessary as part of the government's efforts to ensure sufficient supply of food for the country.
He said that with good planning and implementation, it was not impossible for Malaysia to become a large food producer like the Netherlands.
-- BERNAMA
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