Sabah secures RM235 mil sugar refinery, aquaculture investments

Sabah secures RM235 mil sugar refinery, aquaculture investments

19 Apr 2021

KOTA KINABALU (April 19): Sabah government-owned Sawit Kinabalu Group has signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with Borneo Lestari Sdn Bhd and Admuda Sugar Sdn Bhd to develop the state’s agriculture industry.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the RM235 million domestic direct investments involved were in line with initiatives under the five-year Halatuju Sabah Maju Jaya economic development plan.

“Sawit Kinabalu Group, a premier investment arm of the state government, will be partnering with Admuda Sugar to set up Sabah’s first sugar refinery plant in Kimanis, Papar.

“It will also collaborate in a barramundi breeding aquaculture project with Borneo Lestari at Langkon, Kota Marudu,” he told reporters after witnessing the signing ceremony here today.

Signing for Sawit Kinabalu Group was managing director Bacho Jansie, while Admuda Sugar and Borneo Lestari were represented by their directors Datuk Seri Raja Sulaiman Raja Shariff and Irwin Wong, respectively.

Hajiji, who is also Sawit Kinabalu Group chairman, said the investment for Admuda Sugar’s refinery was estimated to be RM150 million.

The plant will be developed be on 31.97 hectares owned by Sawit Kinabalu Group in Kimanis.

He said the sugar refinery plant, expected to be operational next year, would be producing the Gula Kinabalu sugar brand.

As for Borneo Lestari, it is expected to invest RM85 million in a four-phased aquaculture project on 14.16 hectares belonging to Sawit Kinabalu Group in Langkon.

Hajiji said by using the recirculating aquaculture system, the company would be able to produce a minimum of 1,000 to 1,250 tonnes of barramundis annually.

“Both projects are expected to create a total of 1,000 direct job opportunities and another 1,000 jobs indirectly,” the chief minister said.

Meanwhile, in conjunction with Ramadan, Hajiji handed out a donation of RM10,000 on behalf of Sawit Kinabalu Group to Madrasah Tahfiz Darul Ulum Azzkia in Papar and HOME Rumah Anak Yatim dan Miskin in Tuaran.

Source: Bernama