Download - Economic Transformation Programme

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Chapter 2
Overview of the Economic Transformation Programme
Exhibit 2-1
Therefore we believe the starting point for the ETP should be the implementation of concrete changes in
specific parts of the economy. That is why the 12 National Key Economic Areas (NKEAs) were selected. That
is also why a programme of 12 labs was conducted, one for each NKEA.
Each lab was asked to determine concrete initiatives and projects that would drive the economic
transformation necessary for Malaysia to become a developed nation by 2020. The 12 labs, covering the 11
economic sectors and the development of Greater Kuala Lumpur/Klang Valley, were represented by the
private sector and civil service and facilitated by PEMANDU (the Performance Management and Delivery
Unit under the Prime Minister’s Department). In all, 500 people participated, the majority of whom came
from the private sector.
The ideas generated in the ETP labs were anchored on the policy direction set out in the Tenth Malaysia
Plan, including a private sector-led economy, market liberalisation to drive and encourage growth through
innovation, development of world-class talent and investment in improving infrastructure.
The labs, which ran for eight weeks, provided the private sector an opportunity to work on and shape a
transformative, sector-specific strategy and roadmap. Each lab set out a detailed plan that describes the
aspirations, strategies and concrete action plans for one of the 12 NKEAs. These plans include the required
funding, investment and labour necessary to deliver the stated aspirations. Critical to the success of the labs
was intense syndication and debate among multiple stakeholders including industry experts (international
and domestic), potential investors, regulatory bodies and the Government. These syndication sessions
helped ensure that the initiatives were tangible and realistic.