KOTA TINGGI, Dec 2 ― The integrated Johor Bio Desaru Food Valley which is being actively developed , received two new investments today worth RM504 million.            

The investments involve the incubation, nurturing and breeding of nipah crabs and marine fish by RBI Group (M) Sdn Bhd worth RM4 million and a RM500 million aquaculture venture using the Malaysia Retirculation Aquaculture System or RAS2020 by Aqua Partners International (M) Sdn Bhd.

Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the new investments would raise the total received by Bio Desaru this year to RM750 million.

As of June, Bio Desaru had succeeded in attracting bio-agriculture investments from 31 projects, as a result of the cooperation with 27 companies from both locally and overseas and reaching RM2.1 billion in total.

"Apart from bringing in these two new investors, the state government will also undertake several initiatives to further enhance the development of Bio Desaru and among these is the establishment of the Desaru Holstein dairy cattle centre over 121 hectares (300 acres).        

"The project is a joint venture between the Bio Desaru and Holstein Milk Company Sdn Bhd which will focus on the development of Australian Friesian Sahiwal (AFS) cattle towards enhancing the quality of the breeding and production of local milk supply.

"The project will involve an investment of RM15 million,” he added.

Mohamed Khaled said this at a ceremony for the Exchange of Documents with Bio Desaru Investors, launch of the BioEconomy Community Development Programme Exhibition and Pioneer Agriculture Project and Upstream Processing of Kenaf, Launch of the Desaru Holstein Dairy Cattle Centre and Desaru Cheese here today.

The first phase of the dairy farm will encompass the Pioneer Dairy Cattle Colony Centre at Bio Desaru and be developed at an investment cost of RM1.2 million.         

"The Desaru Cheese promotion centre will be developed over 10 hectares and have components of a fermentation facility and exhibition boutique called 'Desaru Cottage' at an investment of RM5 million to be ready in 2019,” Mohamed Khaled said.

The agriculture and kenaf upstream processing project is being undertaken by a subsidiary of J-Biotech Sdn Bhd with the cooperation of the National Kenaf and Tobacco Board.

Mohamed Khaled said all these projects would help strengthen the economy and country’s food supply in the future. ― Bernama