As Chairman of the East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC), and on behalf of the ECERDC Council Members, I am pleased to note the excellent progress made to transform the East Coast Economic Region (ECER), comprising the states of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang and the district of Mersing, Johor, to be a developed Region by 2020.

It is both my humble duty and a personal privilege to begin by thanking the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Y.A.Bhg. Tun Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi, for setting the benchmark in guiding the ECER towards becoming a developed Region by 2020. His contribution will continue through his role as the Corridor Development Advisor.

The clear vision for developing the Region has been carried through by the ECERDC into the first year of implementation in 2008 as it strives to develop the ECER into a world-class economic Region, and a choice destination for investment, work and quality of life.

ECER projects are being implemented through five clusters of economic development namely in Tourism, Oil, Gas & Petrochemical, Manufacturing, Agriculture and Education.

A total of 189 projects with an estimated value of RM112 billion will be carried out in stages in the ECER up to 2020 over the 9th, 10th and 11th Malaysia Plans.

To spearhead ECER’s development, the Government has allocated RM2.6 billion under the mid-term review of the 9th Malaysia Plan covering some 78 projects. In this context, I am pleased to note that of the 78 projects, a total of 54 high-impact ECER projects have commenced up to August 2009.

While this positive start augurs well for the ECER’s vision to be met by 2020, the Government has moved decisively to fast-track the setting up of the ECER Special Economic Zone (ECER SEZ). The ECER SEZ will act as the national development catalyst for concentrated decentralisation of economic activities in line with the New Economic Model,  which aims for a dynamic and competitive Region of growth.

The first of its kind in Malaysia, the SEZ is a concentrated area with numerous high-impact projects currently ongoing in the ECER. By declaring the area an SEZ and supporting it with unique privileges and exclusive incentives over and above those for the ECER, we hope to attract local and foreign direct investments into the Region, compensating for any fallback caused by the prevailing global economic crisis.

I also take this opportunity to announce that all other projects throughout the ECER will proceed as scheduled, so that the rewards of economic development are accessible to each of the 4 million people residing in the ECER.

Our emphasis in ensuring success also encompasses the noble objective of people-centric programmes to accelerate the growth of the Region in a viable, equitable and sustainable manner – with the main aim of reducing poverty amongst the local community.

In this context, I am very pleased to note that the Pekan Agropolitan Project is a social and human capital initiative which reflects one of the key thrusts of the ECER, aimed at increasing income and entrepreneurial opportunities for the local community of the Region.

We hope this will contribute positively in uplifting the lives of the people in the Region and elevate their standard of living to be at par with the rest of the nation.

Our vision is to transform the east coast region to become a major international and local tourism destination; an exporter of resource-based and manufactured products, a vibrant trading centre and a regional infrastructure and logistics hub.

While this is an effort spearheaded by the Government, it is also vital that the local community and Malaysians in general, local and foreign investors, Federal and State agencies, and the private sector participate actively to make the ECER a resounding success by 2020.

It is therefore imperative that the ECER - being a national development initiative - continues moving forward with implementation under the 9th, 10th and 11th Malaysia Plans. In this respect, I can assure investors and the people of the ECER that the Government is fully committed to the successful implementation of ECER projects.

I would like to take this opportunity to record my sincere appreciation to all those who have, and continue, to support and implement the ECER projects, and for their ongoing efforts in driving this crucial economic development programme towards success, particularly the Federal and State Governments and agencies, the private sector, the local community of the ECER and Malaysians in general.