| Danial Norjidi |
BRUNEI Darussalam’s efforts towards economic diversification and increasing local employment opportunities through attracting foreign direct investment reached another milestone with the launching of a margarine manufacturing plant at the Serasa Industrial Site yesterday.
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office officiated at the opening ceremony of the Western Foods & Packaging Sdn Bhd (WFP) manufacturing plant.
WFP is a wholly owned subsidiary of Turkey-based Marsa Yag Sanayi Ve Ticaret AS (Marsa) and represents another achievement in Brunei Darussalam’s efforts towards economic diversification and increasing local employment opportunities through attracting foreign direct investment.
Upon arrival, His Royal Highness was welcomed by Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Ibrahim, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance II and Chairman of the Foreign Direct Investment and Downstream Industry Steering Committee; Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Bahrin bin Abdullah, the Minister of Development in his capacity as Chairman of the Strategic Development Capital Fund (SDC); and Ali Uker, Vice-Chairman of Yildiz Holding.
Also in attendance were ambassadors and representatives of foreign missions to Brunei Darussalam, senior government officials and representatives from the private sector.
After the ceremony, His Royal Highness viewed a presentation on the background and operations of WFP and then toured its margarine manufacturing plant.
WFP was established in 2011 and aims to expand its presence within the Asian region, Australia, New Zealand and globally. Construction of WFP’s margarine manufacturing plant was completed recently on 1.9 hectares of land at the Serasa Industrial Site.
According to a press release, the plant began production earlier this month and is capable of producing 200 tonnes of margarine per day at full capacity. The products are Halal-certified by Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB) to serve the growing global market demand for quality Halal food products.
WFP currently provides employment to 72 locals, which represents 96 per cent of the company’s total work force. WFP is also looking into downstream opportunities for its products which can be used as ingredients to make biscuits, chocolates, pastries and ice cream. The plant’s by-products can be used as chicken feed and to make soap and detergent. WFP’s products will also be the first margarine and edible oil products to be exported out of Brunei Darussalam.
Marsa is a leading oil and fats manufacturing company from Turkey. It has been one of Turkey’s pioneers of food production since 1926. Today, Marsa exports to over 65 countries spanning five continents.
Marsa’s shareholders include Yildiz Holding, one of Turkey’s leading food conglomerates, as majority owner and the Government of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam through the Strategic Development Capital Fund under the Ministry of Finance.
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