  
News From : DagangHalal.com (30 Jul 2010)
JASIN, July 29 (Bernama) — The Melaka Halal Hub in Serkam here aims to woo RM155 million investment by year-end, says Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam.
Currently, the 53.6ha hub has received RM125 million investments, he said.
“We hope to receive more investments from foreigners, especially from Saudi Arabia,” he told reporters after opening a factory owned by Kewpie Malaysia Sdn Bhd at the hub Thursday.
Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia Horie Masahiko was present.
Mohd Ali said 48 of the 58 factories at the hub were already owned by the investors.
He said the hub provided 732 jobs to locals who have the chance to learn the technology brought in by foreign investors.
Going forward, Mohd Ali said the state government planned to invest RM50 million to develop the second phase of the Melaka Halal Hub under the 10th Malaysia Plan.
The move will entail developing 5.6 hectares of land, building 65 factory units and providing eight empty lots for investors to set up factories, he added.
Meanwhile, Kewpie Malaysia managing director Asada Daisaburo said the company, which produces various mayonis products from Japan, has invested RM34 million to set up the factory at the hub.
The factory, operational next month, will have the capacity to produce 200 tonnes of mayonis in a month.
Kewpie Malaysia aims to achieve RM66.7 million sales by the financial year ending 2015 and will move actively to sell its products in the market, said Daisaburo who spoke through an interpreter.
He said the mayonis products from Japan were first imported to Malaysia 20 years ago due to overwhelming demand.
The company started planning in August 2007 to produce the mayonis in Malaysia after receiving positive feedback at a food exhibition at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre, he added.
— BERNAMA