KUALA TERENGGANU, 24 MARCH 2024: The East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) has realised investments totalling RM2.4 billion in iron and steel manufacturing, napier plantation, pulp mill and food containers production, creating up to 5,000 job opportunities for the people in Terengganu as of March 2024, reaching 57% of the RM4.2 billion realised investment target for the state in 2024.

ECERDC has also been successful in drawing new committed investments totalling RM1.02 billion to Terengganu in oil, gas, and petrochemical sector (RM940 million), services (RM50 million), tourism (RM20 million), and manufacturing (RM10 million) as of March 2024. Foreign direct investment (FDI) accounts for 65% of the total, with the highest investment from Japan amounting to RM660 million.  

“Through close collaboration between the State Government and Federal Government, and continued support from relevant agencies, I believe ECERDC will continue to gain investors’ trust and attract more high-impact investments, keeping Terengganu competitive as one of the main investment destination in the East Coast,” said Menteri Besar of Terengganu, YAB Dato’ Seri Dr. Ahmad Samsuri bin Mokhtar, after chairing the Terengganu Implementation and Coordination Committee (ICC) Meeting.

Also present at the Terengganu ICC meeting were key officials including YBM Tengku Seri Bijaya Raja, Terengganu State Secretary; YBhg. Dato’ Haji Ishamudin bin Hashim, Director of Lands and Mines Terengganu, YBhg. Dato’ Haji Tun Ahmad Faisal bin Tun Abdul Razak, Director of Terengganu State Economic Planning Unit (UPENT), YBhg. Datuk Jazmanie bin Shafawi, Division Secretary, Development Division of the Prime Minister’s Department and YBhg. Dato’ Baidzawi Che Mat, Chief Executive Officer of ECERDC.

YBhg. Dato’ Baidzawi Che Mat, Chief Executive Officer of ECERDC said he was confident that the role played by ECERDC as a one-stop agency in providing “end-to-end” investment facilitation is pivotal in realising investments and propelling economic activities in Terengganu.

ECERDC’s efforts to attract new investments include engagement session with the Chairman of Digital Economy, New Income, Trade, Industry and Green Technology Committee, and signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation commitment in the development, promotion and usage of renewable energy in the ECER region with a leading power generation company from China.

In a separate ceremony held before the Terengganu ICC Meeting on the night of 23 March 2024, ECERDC handed over Surau Al-Ikhwan to the Terengganu Religious Affairs Department (JHEAT) and Tabika Teluk Ketapang to the Community Development Department (KEMAS), followed by an iftar ceremony with the local community. The construction of the surau and tabika is part of the Sultan Mahmud Airport to KTCC (KTAR 2) road project, which has achieved 37% progress as of February 2024. The handover was witnessed by the Director of Terengganu State Economic Planning Unit (UPENT), YBhg. Dato’ Tun Ahmad Faisal bin Tun Abdul Razak.

Among other topics discussed at the meeting, in addition to ECERDC’s achievements and investment activities in Terengganu is the development of the Recreational Vehicle (RV) industry, in the effort to make Malaysia as the RV Hub in the Asia Pacific by 2025. This includes the development of external infrastructure and basic facilities at potential RV park sites. ECERDC has also identified potential locations to be developed as RV parks in Terengganu.

During the meeting, members of ICC Terengganu were briefed on various projects including the development of KTCC Promenade Phase 1 project, construction of artificial headlands at Pantai Teluk Lipat, Dungun, construction of water distribution pipe from Kemaman, Terengganu to Gebeng, Pahang (Package 2), SME Complex Phase 1B and Phase 4A of the Kerteh Biopolymer Park (KBP), as well as planning for Package 2 of KBP.

ECERDC also reported on the status of Inisiatif Pendapatan Rakyat (IPR) BMT, where ECERDC, in collaboration with the Federal Government, State Government, private companies, NGOs, public universities, and local communities, focuses on empowering the poorest to increase the income potential of 186 heads households via 40 programmes currently being implemented in Terengganu.

ICC Terengganu committee members were also briefed on the implementation status of the agrofood@ECER chilli fertigation project, which aims to produce 6,210 metric tonnes per year by 2030, as well as the implementation of the IPR-INTAN sweet potato planting project in Kg. Banggol & Kg. Saujana, Setiu, involving 75 hardcore poor and B40 residents carried out by the Setiu District & Land Office (PDT).