US Chocolate Firm Expected To Invest US$2.49 Million In Malaysia's Johor Halal Park

JOHOR BAHARU (Johor, Malaysia), Aug 11 (Bernama) -- US-based chocolate firm Chocolat Moderne New York is expected to invest US$2.49 million (RM10 million) to build a chocolate factory in the Johor Halal Park (JHP) of Malaysia's southern state Johor. JHP Chief Executive Officer Mohd Noor Abdul Salam said the New York-based firm's initial investment will cover land acquisition costs and construction of a 5,500 sq ft factory, among others. "The company has voiced its intention to build a factory in JHP. They are impressed by the incentives if they invest here and the potential of the halal market," he said. Chocolat Moderne New York has also shown interest in expanding to the Middle Eastern market, he said, adding several foreign companies, including from Singapore, South Korea and Japan, are also keen to invest in JHP. He said JHP's first phase, comprising 89 industrial and 36 office units, laboratory, one-stop centre and other international-class facilities, is expected to be completed by year-end. "For the industrial units, 70 per cent have been bought by local investors. We are also collaborating with Malaysian agencies of SME Corp and MARA," he said, adding Turkish investors are also keen to make JHP a gateway to the European market. --BERNAMA