ECER SEEKS POTENTIAL INVESTORS TO DEVELOP HERBAL PARKS

KUALA LUMPUR, April 15 (Bernama)-- The East Coast Economic Region
Development Council is eyeing for potential investors to develop herbal parks
under the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) herbal plantation project.

The parks are in Pasir Raja, Dungun, and Chegar Perah in Lipis, Pahang
state, for phase one and in Durian Mentanga in Dungun and Rantau Manis in Gua
Musang, in Kelantan state for phase two.

Chief Executive Officer Jebasingam Issace John said in a statement here
Friday, that local, international and joint-venture companies are welcomed to
participate in the development of ECER's herbal plantation projects.

Via these projects, he said, it is expected to generate a gross national
income amounting to RM3.25 billion (US$1.03 billion) by 2020, while creating
over 2,500 new jobs and 530 contract farmers.

"The council will provide the infrastructures for the projects, starting
with phase one expected to be ready by the first quarter of next year, while
phase two is expected to roll out in 2013-2014." he said.

Under the project, the council will appoint selected anchor investors, who
will helm business activities along the herbal cluster value chain in ECER.

The anchor companies will also provide training for contract and satellite
farmers to ensure higher crop output through the use of technology.

"They also will provide buy-back service to contract and satellite
farmers to ensure marketability of their crops at a fair price, while anchor
companies will enjoy various incentives given by the government.

"We are also seeking other players to take part in the upstream, midstream
and downstream herbal-related activities in ECER," he said.

ECER is poised to tap into the herbal market which the World Health
Organisation (WHO) has predicted will hit a value of US$5 trillion by 2050.