East Coast Economic

ECER corridor was suppose to be developed for 5 areas...
- tourism
- oil and gas
- manufacturing
- agriculture
- education

This was stated in the forward by Najib..

Foreword by The Prime Minister

As Chairman of the East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC), and on behalf of the ECERDC Council Members, I am pleased to highlight the considerable investment opportunities that exist within the East Coast states of Malaysia, as well as the perceptive foresight and strategic planning that goes into making this Region one of the best kept secrets within the business world.

 

Known collectively today as the East Coast Economic Region (ECER), the states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and the district of Mersing in Johor has long been a haven for travellers from around the world. We are positioning it as a choice destination for investment, work and living for local and international business communities.

 

Since its inception in June 2008, ECERDC has been implementing various economic projects through the five economic clusters, namely in Tourism, Oil, Gas & Petrochemical, Manufacturing, Agriculture and Education. 

 

Within the ECER, infrastructure projects have been identified as key components in accelerating Regional economic growth. Improvements in road, air and maritime facilities and networks to enhance connectivity and linkages, as well as improvements in key infrastructure such as electricity, water supply, telecommunications and ICT to meet the current and projected demands are excellent examples of the Government’s commitment to boost infrastructure within ECER.

 

To further enhance the Region’s competitive advantage, the ECER Special Economic Zone (ECER SEZ) was established in August 2009 as a strategic initiative for a more focused investment approach. The ECER SEZ will act as the national development catalyst for concentrated decentralisation of economic activities in line with the New Economic Model, which aims for a dynamic and competitive Region of growth.

 

The ECER SEZ is a concentrated area with numerous high-impact projects currently ongoing in the ECER. Supported by customised package of incentives to meet the needs of investors, the ECER SEZ is expected to provide a great impetus for growth and investments within the East Coast Region.

 

As a whole, ECER is expected to implement projects worth an estimated RM112 billion in value by year 2020. The ECER SEZ specifically is expected to generate up to RM90 billion in investment and contribute RM23 billion to the national GDP, as well as create 220,000 new jobs out of the 560,000 jobs identified under the ECER Master Plan.

 

To ensure that the Region has the critical mass to achieve economies of scale, several pro-business policies were instituted and modified to offer investors a dynamic and vibrant business environment that is supported by a market-oriented economy. 

 

In addition, the ECERDC’s One Stop Centre was also established to further facilitate the investor’s needs, by providing a single point of contact for prospective investors to receive, process and expedite approvals in the promotion of trade, investment and development on behalf of the state and federal Government entities.

 

Human resource plays a key role in maintaining a competitive business advantage in any given industry. In ECER, strong emphasis on human capital development ensures a steady supply of skilled and semi skilled manpower to meet the needs of the expanding industrial and services sectors.

 

Continuous active engagements and promotions to the local and global trade and business fraternities will also be pursued, either by participating in investment missions and trade shows in key investment markets or even industry-related forums, seminars and conferences. 

 

The Region’s distinct culture and heritage is also another of ECER’s greatest assets. Unmatched for its uniqueness, the East Coast’s culture is eloquently expressed in its handicraft, dances and architecture, not to mention the array of foods that blend influences from the East and the West. 

 

Against such a unique backdrop, together with a competitive cost of doing business, stable political environment, increasing per capita income and the potential for regional integration throughout the Asia-Pacific market of 2.2 billion people, ECER is indeed an attractive investment prospect, offering investors a wide spectrum of varying opportunities.

 

Needless to say, we are truly steadfast in our vision to transform the East Coast Region in becoming a major international and local tourism destination; an exporter of resource-based and manufactured products, a vibrant trading centre and a Regional infrastructure and logistics hub.

 

With such an impact to the nation’s economy in general, it is imperative that ECER, being a national economic development initiative, continues to move forward with successful implementation. In this regard, I can assure you, the investors and the private sectors within ECER, that the Government is fully committed to the successful implementation of all ECER projects.

 

As Chairman of ECERDC and on behalf of the ECERDC Council Members, I hereby extend my personal invitation to all would-be investors to come and contribute in transforming this special Region. Let us join hands and work together to realise the vision of ECER to become a developed region by the year 2020. 

 

Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak