FACTBOX: Malaysia unveils third economic corridor

(Reuters) - Malaysia unveiled an ambitious plan to transform its northeastern ethnic Malay heartland into an economic powerhouse on Monday, earmarking $34 billion to build the country's third development corridor by 2020.

Here are some facts about the planned corridors.

THE EAST COAST ECONOMIC CORRIDOR (ECER)

* Sprawling over 51 percent of the Malaysian peninsula, the area is the biggest of three economic corridors launched by the government since 2006. It includes northeast states Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and northern Johor.

* Some $34 billion has been put aside for developing the corridor's agriculture, energy, education, tourism, infrastructure and manufacturing sectors. Private investors are expected to fund a fifth of the spending.

* The master plan, prepared by state oil firm Petronas, has lined up 227 projects to be implemented over the next 12 years. They are expected to create some 560,000 jobs and substantially raise the incomes of nearly four million people, or 15 percent of the country's population.

* The total gross domestic product growth in the ECER will be raised to 7.2 percent by 2020 from 5.7 per cent in 2005.

NORTHERN REGION DEVELOPMENT PLAN:

* Covering the four states of Penang, Perak, Kedah and Perlis, the northern corridor, launched in July, will build up modern food-processing zones by focusing on adding value in manufacturing, and also strengthening tourism.