Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd (F&NHB), known for its quality and trusted halal products, launched its foray into the upstream fresh milk business with a groundbreaking ceremony of the Group’s integrated dairy farm in Gemas, Negeri Sembilan. This momentous milestone puts the Group on track to become one of the largest milk producers in Malaysia when its integrated farm reaches its Phase 1 total production at 100 million litres of fresh milk.
Spread over 2,726 hectares, the farm will eventually house 20,000 milking cows, producing 200 million litres of fresh milk yearly for the local and international markets. The processing and packaging line will be situated right next to the milking parlour, offering Malaysian consumers quality fresh milk at an affordable price. It will also help promote the growth of the local agricultural industry by fostering a skilled workforce and generating job opportunities in the dairy and agriculture industries.
The Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Dato’ Seri Aminuddin Harun, officiated the groundbreaking ceremony. Also present were Negeri Sembilan State Secretary, Dato’ Mohd Zafir Ibrahim, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO), Investment Promotion and Facilitation of Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), Sivasuriyamoorthy Sundara Raja, the Chairman of F&NHB, Tengku Syed Badarudin Jamalullail, and F&NHB Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Lim Yew Hoe.
Aminuddin expressed enthusiasm for developing F&NHB’s dairy farm in Gemas, emphasising its potential to contribute to the local economy, the Malaysian dairy industry, and the creation of a skilled workforce.
“Projects such as this will not only create new job opportunities and agribusiness prospects for local communities but also empower them with new technologies in dairy farming. Furthermore, F&NHB’s establishment of a Research & Development (R&D) Centre or Centre of Excellence (COE) for Dairy and Agriculture will contribute to the development of skilled professionals in fields such as veterinarians, animal nutritionists, agronomists, food technologists, and food R&D. These initiatives will undoubtedly enhance job opportunities for skilled workforces, driving growth in the dairy and agriculture sectors,” said Aminuddin in his opening address.
Lim said: “Operationalising the integrated dairy farm will result in a vertical integration of F&NHB’s business and operations, reducing our reliance on imported milk for downstream production and distribution. This integration will also help lower the cost per litre of fresh milk, benefitting Malaysian consumers. We also aim to export fresh milk, potentially making Malaysia a net exporter of fresh milk.”
