02/11/2011 (The Sun Daily) - Some RM10 billion in investments under the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) over the past one year have been realised, constituting 64% of the RM15 billion investments committed for the year, Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) chief executive officer Datuk Seri Idris Jala said today.

He also said Entry Point projects (EPPs) were progressing well.

Seventy out of 131 EPPs or 53% have taken off.

"As some EPPs have multiple projects, we now have 97 projects, which are in various implementation stage," he told a media briefing to mark the ETP completing its first 12 months.

The ETP, launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak in October 2010, aims to transform Malaysia into a high-income nation by 2020.

Idris Jala said: "There is positive progress after just 12 months."

By being focused on the 12 key growth areas, he said the Malaysian private sector's confidence in the local economy has also increased. "In the first half of 2011, private sector investment was up 23.4% to RM51.2 billion, outstripping public investment for the same period," he said.

Idris said the first six months also saw the Gross National Income (GNI) standing at RM288 billion, 38% to touch RM494 billion targeted for the whole year.

The ETP has also created some 344,000 jobs for the period, about 50% of the overall target of 684,000 jobs to be created this year.

Over a year, 131 EPPs have been clearly outlined within 12 National Key Economic Areas (NKEAS) towards achieving high-income nation status.

Among the projects that have made good progress are under Tourism NKEA and Johor Premium Outlets, which will have its grand opening next month.

Under the Palm Oil NKEA, there are currently 186 mills, with a dedicated Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) Quality Enforcement Officers, resulting Oil Extraction Rate (OER) improving to 20.54% in September from 19.7%.

The Small Retailer Transformation Programme (Tukar), which is under the Wholesale and Retail NKEA, has successfully impacted 343 retailers nationwide, close to this year's 500 target.

Idris said TUKAR has brought about an increase in retailer income of between 30% and 80%.

Under the Agriculture NKEA, Infoculture Sdn Bhd, the lead company for fragrant rise cultivation, plans to scale up planting to 188 hectares, a 25% increase from its 150 hectares target for this year.

"This is due to good farmer and public response towards the rice marketed under the Regenta brand name in Justlife stores," he said.

In addition, Idris said Talent Corp reported that over 450 Malaysians have returned under the Returning Expert Programme.

The Resident Pass, an enhancement of the Employment Pass, has seen approval for more than 300 applicants since April this year, added Idris, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister's Department.