ECER BLUEPRINT 2.0 EYES RM70 BLN INVESTMENT, CREATES 120,000 NEW JOBS

KUALA LUMPUR, June 20 (Bernama) -- The East Coast Economic Region (ECER) Master Plan 2.0 (EMP 2.0) unveiled today aims to draw RM70 billion in new private investment and create 120,000 new jobs.

The master plan has also mapped out 60,000 entrepreneurial opportunities for the people as among its key goals, according to a statement from the ECER Development Council (ECERDC).

To propel the economic region forward in the next seven years, ECERDC said emphasis would be given on six strategic initiatives, namely increasing labour productivity; diversifying economic bases; facilitating economies of scale; mobilising the labour force; leveraging connectivity; and enhancing enabling infrastructure such as information and communications technology broadband connectivity. 

“The EMP 2.0 (2018-2025) aims to accelerate the next leap of ECER’s socio-economic transformation, ultimately narrowing the regional imbalance and enhancing the well-being of the people.

"Through the delivery of high-impact projects and programmes, the people will continue to benefit through the inclusive and equitable opportunities to uplift their quality of life through the jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities created in the region,” said ECERDC chief executive officer Baidzawi Che Mat.

The EMP 2.0 was launched by the Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is also the chairman of ECERDC, at the Prime Minister’s Office today.

Also present at the launch were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Menteris Besar of states in the ECER, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng and Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.

Under the EMP 2.0, greater emphasis will be given to accelerate the region’s readiness for Industry 4.0, given the importance of the digital platform in shaping economies and driving innovations worldwide.

To set the wheels in motion, ECERDC in partnership with Technische Universitat Munchen has established the Asia Centre of Excellence for Smart Technologies (ACES) at the Pahang Technology Park’s Cybercentre.

ACES, envisioned to serve as a skills development hub for people and enterprises from Malaysia and Southeast Asia, will equip the local talent pool as well as businesses with Industry 4.0 knowledge, hence increasing their employability, marketability and efficiency.

Meanwhile, two high-impact game-changers -- the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) and expansion of Kuantan Port in Pahang, are expected to facilitate further investments and improve mobility of goods and people. 

The ECRL will unlock new tourism hubs and transit-oriented developments along its alignment while the expansion of Kuantan Port can cater to larger vessels, thus reinforcing the ECER as the Gateway to the Asia Pacific region.

The ECERDC has also identified a new key driver -- logistics and trade facilitation -- to enhance the ECER’s overall competitiveness by identifying, aggregating and addressing supply chain issues for the region’s existing economic drivers, among them manufacturing; oil, gas and petrochemicals; tourism and agribusiness sectors. 

-- BERNAMA