ECRL TO HELP INCREASE TERENGGANU’S GDP TO RM48.2 BILLION BY 2040

KUALA TERENGGANU, Nov 12 (Bernama) -- Terengganu’s gross domestic product (GDP) is projected to rise to RM48.2 billion by 2040, up from RM34 billion in 2020, resulting from the implementation of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project.

Mohd Nurkhuzaini Ab Rahman, chairman of the State Committee on Digital Economy, New Revenue, Trade, Industry and Green Technology, said data from the ECRL Integrated Land Use Master Plan (PeGTa) study by PlanMalaysia indicates an average annual increase of around 1.8 per cent over the project period.

He said this demonstrates that the Federal Government’s project is expected to have a significant economic growth impact on Terengganu.

“This projection takes into account the direct and indirect effects of ECRL construction and operations, including increased investment in the industrial and logistics sectors; growth in trade and tourism activities; and transit-oriented development (TOD) around key ECRL stations at Jerteh, Bandar Permaisuri, Kuala Terengganu, Dungun, Kemasik and Chukai,” he told the State Legislative Assembly today.

Mohd Nurkhuzaini was responding to Dr Mamad Puteh (PAS–Kuala Berang), who had asked about the projected economic impact of the ECRL on Terengganu’s GDP once it becomes operational.

Overall, he added, the ECRL project will not only strengthen the regional transport network but also has the potential to act as a major catalyst for the state’s economic development, creating new employment opportunities and enhancing Terengganu’s competitiveness within the East Coast economic ecosystem.

For the record, ECRL construction projects in Terengganu involve six stations, all of which are passenger stations except for the Dungun and Chukai stations, which also include cargo facilities.

 -- BERNAMA