KUALA LUMPUR: PLS Plantations Bhd, a leading plantation company in Malaysia, has announced a strategic partnership with Agrofresh Management Sdn Bhd to develop the largest banana plantation in the country. Through its subsidiary, Brighthill Synergy Sdn Bhd, PLS Plantations will collaborate with Agrofresh, a company specializing in Cavendish bananas and well-known for its expertise in R&D, seedlings, plantation, packaging, and trading. This partnership aims to establish a joint venture company called PLS Agrofresh Sdn Bhd, with 500 acres of initial planting and a long-term target of 2,500 acres.
The collaboration between PLS Plantations and Agrofresh holds great potential for the evolution of the banana plantation industry in Malaysia. Lee Hun Kheng, CEO of PLS Plantations, expressed his optimism, stating, “Our ambitious growth plans will be significantly advanced through this venture. We aim to become one of the largest banana planters in Malaysia.”
To ensure the success of the joint venture, PLS Agrofresh is assembling a team of experienced technical experts from the Philippines. These industry professionals possess the necessary skillsets and international standard practices in operating large-scale commercial banana plantations. By working together, PLS Agrofresh aims to reduce Malaysia’s dependency on banana imports and shift towards exporting locally-grown bananas, thereby positively impacting the country’s trade balance.
The first harvest from this maiden 500-acre banana plantation is projected to take place in October/November 2024. As PLS Plantations and Agrofresh embark on this groundbreaking collaboration, the growth of Malaysia’s banana industry is expected to gain significant momentum.
Credit: The Star : Business Feed
