KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) has pledged to continue providing facilitation services to industries in realising sustainable and inclusive investments that will create new industrial chains.

       Mida chief executive officer Datuk Arham Abdul Rahman said this following the groundbreaking ceremony of the Green Technology Park in Pekan, Pahang by Nextgreen Global Bhd.

       The project involved the construction of three buildings to manufacture tissue papers, animal feed and fertilisers for a total investment of RM162mil.

       “In Malaysia, the pulp and paper industry is driving the use of empty fruit bunches from oil palm because they provide a lot of raw materials for the production of pulp and paper.

       “In the past five years (2017 to 2021), Mida has approved 48 biomass-related projects with a total investment of RM1.24bil,” he said in a statement reported by Bernama.

       Arham said such services would create positive spillover as well as high value jobs in line with the national investment aspirations.

       “Mida hopes that more industry players will participate in producing higher value bio-based products, apart from exporting only raw materials.

       “This is seen as one of the solutions in addressing the issue of climate change and also promote rural development and socio-economic activities,” he said.

       The ceremony was officiated by Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail at the technology park which has a total investment of RM80mil for a tissue paper factory, RM50mil (animal feed factory) and RM32mil (fertiliser factory).

       He said that in terms of production, the tissue paper plant is expected to produce 10,000 tonnes, while the other two factories will produce 30,000 tonnes of animal feed and 30,000 tonnes of organic fertiliser.

       “The state government hopes that with the investment from Nextgreen Global, more investors will be attracted to projects based on environment, social and governance in line with the sustainable development goals of Pahang.

       “Through this investment, the state government hopes to create more employment opportunities and further improve the people’s income and the economy,” he pointed out.