Malaysia can become leading regional biodegradable hub through RM400 mil UAE investment, says MAFI
The Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry (MAFI) is optimistic that Malaysia can potentially transform into a leading biodegradable hub in Southeast Asia through the partnership between local biotechnology firm Free The Seed Sdn Bhd and Hotpack Packaging Industries LLC (Hotpack) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
农业和食品工业部（MAFI）乐观地认为，通过当地生物技术公司 Free The Seed Sdn Bhd 和阿拉伯联合酋长国 (UAE) 的Hotpack Packaging Industries LLC（Hotpack）之间的合作，马来西亚有可能转变为东南亚领先的可生物降解中心。
Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee said the collaboration involves the setting up of up to 10 new biodegradable packaging factories in Gurun, Kedah, worth RM400 million in the next 10 years.
部长拿督斯里 Ronald Kiandee 博士表示，合作涉及在未来 10 年在吉打州 Gurun 建立多达 10 家新的可生物降解包装工厂，价值 4 亿令吉。
"The investment will be RM100 million for the first three to five years, and Hotpack plans to increase its investment to RM400 million within 10 years.
“首三至五年的投资将是 1 亿令吉，Hotpack 计划在 10 年内将其投资增加到 4 亿令吉。
“The construction of the first 3,200-square metre plant will begin next month (May) and is expected to be completed in August 2022,” he said during the groundbreaking ceremony at Free The Seed’s facility here on Thursday (21st April).
“第一个 3,200 平方米的工厂将于下个月（5 月）开始建设，预计将于 2022 年 8 月完成，”他在周四（4 月 21 日）在 Free The Seed 工厂举行的奠基仪式上说。
Free The Seed, which makes biodegradable products from rice straws, will be Hotpack’s technology and operational partner, providing raw materials, expertise, workforce and technical know-how to the UAE company.
Free The Seed 将利用稻草生产可生物降解的产品，将成为 Hotpack 的技术和运营合作伙伴，为阿联酋公司提供原材料、专业知识、劳动力和技术诀窍。
Hotpack will then manufacture and provide a new line of biodegradable products for its markets globally, including the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
然后，Hotpack 将为其全球市场（包括海湾合作委员会国家）生产和提供新的可生物降解产品系列。
The first facility — also Hotpack’s first-ever factory in Southeast Asia — is expected to produce 70 million units of fast-moving consumer goods packaging products annually.
第一家工厂——也是 Hotpack 在东南亚的第一家工厂——预计每年将生产 7000 万件快速消费品包装产品。
The partnership between Free The Seed and Hotpack came about through business matching initiated by the Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation at the Expo 2022 Dubai in February this year.
Free The Seed 和 Hotpack 之间的合作伙伴关系是通过马来西亚生物经济发展公司于今年 2 月在 2022 年迪拜世博会上发起的商业配对来实现的。
Ronald said Hotpack’s investment is expected to create 300 direct job opportunities in the next three to five years, and the number will rise to 1,200 job opportunities among the skilled and semi-skilled workforce over 10 years.
Ronald说，Hotpack 的投资预计将在未来三到五年内创造 300 个直接就业机会，而在 10 年内，这一数字将在熟练和半熟练劳动力中增加到 1,200 个。
According to him, the partnership will also see biodegradable packaging produced using more diverse agricultural wastes such as pineapple leaves and other agro-biomass materials.
据他介绍，该合作伙伴关系还将看到使用更多样化的农业废物（如菠萝叶和其他农业生物质材料）生产可生物降解的包装。
“Such a sustainable and circular model will lead to better incomes for more farming communities in Malaysia, while attracting foreign investors, protecting the environment and adding value to sustainable agriculture in Malaysia and UAE,” he said.
他说这种可持续和循环的模式将为马来西亚更多的农业社区带来更好的收入，同时吸引外国投资者，保护环境并为马来西亚和阿联酋的可持续农业增加价值。”
The partnership between Hotpack and BioNexus-status firm Free The Seed will further strengthen economic relations between the two countries, the minister said, adding that the trust and confidence shown by the UAE company towards local firms like Free The Seed is a testament to the innovativeness and high value offered by Malaysian agriculture.
部长说，Hotpack 和 BioNexus 地位公司 Free The Seed 之间的合作伙伴关系将进一步加强两国之间的经济关系，并补充说阿联酋公司对 Free The Seed 等当地公司表现出的信任和信心证明了创新性马来西亚农业提供的高价值。