PEKAN (June 9): Pahang’s Green Technology Park (GTP) has been given a major boost involving an investment value of RM162 million by Nextgreen Global Bhd, said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail.

He said the investment involves the development of Nextgreen’s tissue factory, which is expected to be completed next year, and its fertiliser and animal feed factories, both expected to be completed by the end of this year.

“The three factories are poised to improve Pahang’s economy, besides providing employment opportunities for the locals, including the Orang Asli community.

“Besides that, Nextgreen and Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Pahang are discussing to further expand the development of the GTP by increasing the area from 165.9 hectares (ha) to 1,214ha,” he said after the GTP Phase 1B factory groundbreaking ceremony here on Thursday.

Also in attendance was Pahang State secretary Datuk Seri Dr Sallehuddin Ishak.

At the ceremony, Wan Rosdy also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nextgreen managing director Datuk Lim Thiam Huat and National Farmers Organisation chairman Datuk Zamri Yaakob.

The MoU involves efforts to develop the country’s sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural industry.

Meanwhile, Nextgreen director Datuk Mohd Yusof Din said the development of the factories was a follow-up to its wood-free paper mill at the GTP, which is expected to start operations next month.

He said when the factories are fully operational, the tissue factory will have a production capacity of 10,000 tonnes a year, while the animal feed and fertiliser factories will have production capacities of 30,000 tonnes each.

He said the construction of the factories was in line with the concept of zero-waste development of the GTP, which was also the basis for cyclical economic growth based on production and recycling of waste from factories into remarketing products such as organic fertilisers and animal feed.

Mohd Yusof also said these factories are expected to provide 200 additional job opportunities compared with the existing 250 employees, in line with his company’s policy to provide employment opportunities to the locals.

“To realise this policy, we have collaborated with Institut Kemahiran Belia Negara, Pekan, for the recruitment of final semester students to undergo their industrial training at the GTP and then be absorbed as employees here,” he said.