Najib unveils nine new ETP projects worth RM2.27b
A total of 15 initiatives within seven NKEAs will bring in about RM63 billion in investment.
(Bernama) – Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak today announced nine new initiatives under the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) which will bring in a total of RM2.27 billion in investment, gross national income (GNI) impact of RM18.67 billion and create 36,595 jobs by 2020.
He recapped six ETP projects that were announced recently which include a refinery and a petrochemical integrated development costing RM60 billion.
Combined, these 15 initiatives within seven National Key Economic Areas (NKEAs) will account for about RM63.38 billion in investment, RM66.31 billion in GNI and 63,531 new jobs.
On a cumulative basis, the ETP has to date recorded RM170.28 billion in investment, RM220.15 billion in GNI and 362,396 new jobs, Najib said at the ETP Progress Update Six here today.
Among the initiatives announced today were the UCSI Group, parent organisation of the UCSI University, to develop a 64ha integrated health education cluster in Bandar Springhill, Port Dickson.
The development will comprise the first private teaching hospital in the country. The 1,000-bed UCSI University Hospital will feature Malaysia’s only anti-ageing, aesthetics and regenerative medicine facility.
The group is expected to invest RM850 million by 2012, which will generate RM1.3 billion in GNI and 2,000 jobs by 2020.
Another initiative, a consortium comprising SEGi Education Group and eight early childhood care education (ECCE) providers will upgrade qualifications of existing workforce to a minimum of diploma level and provide multiple and accessible training as well as develop national programme standards for ECCE training.
The ECCE will be fully operational by 2015, the investment is worth RM700 million and will generate RM900 million in GNI.
Others include Sime Darby Healthcare Group investing in the establishment of two specialist hospitals, Sime Darby Medical Centre Ara Damansara (SMDC AD) and Sime Darby Medical Centre Desa ParkCity (Parkcity).
SMDC AD and Parkcity will cost RM240 million and RM40 million, respectively.
Under the ETP Progress Update Six, the Agriculture NKEA initiatives will feature two star products – premium shrimps and swiftlet nests.
Najib said JEFI Aquatech Resources Sdn Bhd was spearheading an initiative to develop Malaysia as a leading shrimp producer for the global and halal market by developing agro-entrepreneurs in the country’s rural areas.
The three main components of this project are the establishment of the Jefi Aquatech Centre and Jefi Aquatech Farm, which includes the development of Agro-Entrepreneur Programme.
This initiative will require RM575 million in investment.
In another initiative, Yanming Resources Sdn Bhd is investing RM5 million to increase its edible bird’s nest production capabilities, which will increase mechanisation in the processing line, up to 60% from the current 10%. It is expected to create RM88.7 million in GNI and 103 new jobs by 2020.
On the Communications Content and Infrastructure NKEA, VADS Bhd and Cisco have signed a collaborative agreement to build the first TelePresence Exchange Infrastructure in Malaysia to offer Managed TelePresence Services to the private and public sectors in the country and the region.
This investment is worth RM11.3 million.
Meanwhile, the government-funded initiative to stimulate sales of energy-efficient appliances will cost RM50.2 million in 2011. The programme is spearheaded by the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry to improve energy efficiency in the country through five initiatives.
Lastly, to create stronger growth for the retail sector, the Unified Malaysia Sale will unite the three main sales events into one central coordinated event.
This year, the 1Malaysia Unified Sale will be introduced for the first time from Wednesday to Aug 31 which will encompass more than 50 sectors as compared with just garments and footwear previously.
