9/8/2013 — http://www.themalaymailonline.com/money/article/ecerdc-attracts-rm23b-in-investments-for-pahang-in-5-years
KUANTAN, Sept 8 — The East Coast Economic Region Development (ECERDC) has attracted investments of RM23.55 billion into Pahang out of the total investments of RM50 billion since the establishment of the economic corridor five years ago.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob said the projects that were implemented by the ECERDC had also created over 24,100 job opportunities for the rakyat in Pahang during the five-year period.
“The economic growth in ECER is driven by the ECER Special Economic Zone (ECER SEZ) which spans Kerteh in Terengganu to Kuantan, Gambang and Pekan in Pahang.
“ECER SEZ has succeeded in attracting renowned investors such as BASF Petronas, Kaneka Group, DRB-HICOM, Volkswagen, Mercedes and Guangxi Beinu International Port Group,” he said during the launching of the open day in conjunction with the ECER fifth anniversary here today.
Also present were ECERDC Chief Executive Officer Datuk Jebasingam Issace John and Pahang State Seretary Datuk Seri Muhammad Safian Ismail.
Adnan said ECERDC had also succeeded in improving the level of income and quality of life of the rakyat in the state through various programmes to eradicate poverty in rural areas.
“In this regard, I urge the ECERDC to continue with the projects to eradicate poverty in areas outside the ECER SEZ so that the low-income residents can benefit from those projects implemented by the ECERDC.
“This is to ensure that the poor and rural communities can get involved in economic activities in Pahang which is currently experiencing transformation, and indirectly help to narrow the economic gap between the town and rural communities,” he said.
Two programmes that have been implemented by ECERDC in the state to eradicate poverty are the Empower programme in Bentong which is aimed at improving education and skills of rural communities and Agropolitan project in Pekan.
“The participants under the Agropolitan project who are involved in rearing dorper sheep and oil palm plantations are capable of achieving income of RM1,100 compared with RM350 per month before,” he said. — Bernama
