While the country has made significant strides in developing the national economy, the ECER needs to catch up economically with the more developed parts of the country.

The ECER seeks to improve the following areas:

• reducing regional disparities between the West Coast and East Coast states
• increasing level of income of rural populace
• eradicating hard core poverty
• improving accesssibility to and within the Region
• upgrading infrastructure in areas such as flood mitigation, water supply and sewerage systems
• optimising real estate sector that includes effectively utilising Malay Reserve Land.
• GDP (in 1987 prices) Growth rate is expected to be:
  1. 2005 = RM 23.140 billion
  2. 2020 = RM 65.930 billion

The resolution of these key challenges is fundamental in developing this Region.