ECER Office To Boost Terengganu’s Development

4/29/2009 — Press Release
Projects of the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) in Terengganu will be making better progress through the presence of its new state office here.
Located at 100B, Jalan Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kuala Terengganu, the launch of the state office will be officiated by Terengganu Menteri Besar, Datuk Ahmad bin Said on May 3rd.
“Through this state office, the ECER Development Council will be able to accelerate the region’s economic growth, in line with the objectives of its master plan,” said Datuk Jebasingam Issace John, Chief Executive of ECER Development Council (ECERDC).
“The opening of the Terengganu state office reaffirms ECERDC’s commitment in facilitating and ensuring smooth implementation of projects in the state. It will also strengthen ECERDC’s presence.
“The state office will fuel Terengganu’s ECER projects, coordinate and facilitate processes for potential investors and current establishments, as well as provide information on ECER projects.”
Under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, 44 projects have been identified under the ECER for implementation in Terengganu.
Of these, 31 are exclusive to the state, while the remaining 13 are cross-border projects involving other neighboring states.
Some 21 projects commenced last year while 11 will begin by mid of this year with ten projects to start before year end. A further two projects will be implemented early 2010.
Under ECER Master Plan, Terengganu is positioned as the Tourism Gateway and the hub for the region’s centres of excellence.
The state’s primary focus is also on petrochemical, oil and gas-based industries and agro-based activities particularly goat breeding and mutton cluster, aquaculture activities, vegetable farming, herbal parks and industrial-based crop focusing on kenaf cultivation.
The total investment pledged for Terengganu from year 2007 to date, is estimated at RM10.8 billion.
The launch of the state office coincides with the first meeting of the state’s Implementation and Coordination Committee (ICC), which will oversee the projects’ ground implementation.
The Terengganu ICC consists of 11 members and will be headed by the Menteri Besar. Other members include ECERDC’s CEO, Terengganu State Secretary and State Economic Planning Unit Director, as well as representatives of the state and federal government agencies and institutions.