ECER TO BRING IN MORE INVESTMENTS IN 2010

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 2 (Bernama) -- The East Coast Economic Region (ECER) will
focus on bringing in more domestic and foreign investments in 2010 while
increasing private sector participation within the region.

ECER Development Council chief executive Jebasingam Issace John said ECER
has already attracted a total of RM26 billion (US$7.59 billion) in expressed and
committed investments, from both local and foreign sources. (US$1=RM3.42)

"There are several existing projects within the ECER Special Economic Zone
(SEZ) that investors might find highly lucrative yet safe for investment such as
Malaysia's first fully integrated plastics and polymer park, the Kertih Polymer
Park (KPP) which is now ready for occupancy within its 140-hectare land area,"
he said in a statement here Saturday.

Set up to promote a plug-and-play concept, Jebasingam said KPP will tap into
the potential synergies from integration with the nearby Kertih Integrated
Petrochemical Complex in east coast state of Terengganu.

The park, which has drawn immediate commitments of RM565 million in
investments, is expected to be fully operational in 2015.

Another area that ECER is focusing on is the Pekan Automotive
Industrial Park, with planned upgrades in infrastructure and landscaping as well
as the setting up of a central marketing centre in 2010.

"As a whole, the Pekan Automotive Industrial Park is expected to generate
over RM4 billion in investments throughout its four stages of development and
create a total of 10,580 jobs," Jebasingam said.

Meanwhile, efforts have been made to attract investors to participate in
key viable projects outside the SEZ, which would act as suppliers of feedstock
and to support the development of projects within SEZ.

This includes projects for the tourism and agriculture clusters.

For agriculture, the Muadzam Shah Cattle Research and Innovation Centre will
be built in May 2010 to accommodate 1,300 breeders and bulls as a means to
reduce dependency on imported cattle stock.

Meanwhile for tourism, ECER has designated some 106 hectares in Teluk
Bidara, Dungun to be built with high-quality hotels, resorts and chalets.

To boost the city's tourism pull, Kuala Terengganu city centre's
construction as an integrated waterfront heritage city will begin within the
second half of 2010.

To enhance the region's natural tourism resources, Gua Musang and Kuala Krai
will be developed as an eco-tourism destination, forming a part of the Lanchang
- Kuala Lipis adventure trail and Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary in Pahang into
a world-class elephant conservation and education facility.
-- BERNAMA