Enza Zaden Asia launch high quality vegetable seed production headquarters and logistics hub in Malaysia

The Netherland-based Enza Zaden Asia Holding Sdn Bhd has officially opened a headquarters and logistics hub at the Penang Science Park in Batu Kawan here with total investment value of RM50 million.

The investment was accomplished through discussions sealed between the company and the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) back in 2015.

Its chief operating officer Jaap Mazereeuw said that the company, which has been producing high quality vegetable seeds for 80 years, had planned to expand their business due to encouraging demands from the people who need nutritious food products.

He said as a result, the company was interested to invest here, and had made Penang its logistics hub to produce the vegetable seeds for the South East Asia market, which has a population of over 600 million people in 12 countries.

Enza Zaden Asia Holding Sdn Bhd chief operating officer Jaap Mazereeuw said that the company, which has been producing high quality vegetable seeds for 80 years, had planned to expand their business due to encouraging demands from the people who need nutritious food products. Pic by STR/AMIR IRSYAD OMAR

"The growing number of population has challenged the farmers to provide nutritious food products. However, they are faced with soil problems which caused the plants to be susceptible to disease, resulting in huge losses.

"Hence, as experts in producing the vegetable seeds, we want to solve the problems faced by the farmers by conducting research and produce seeds using the latest technology, which is aligned to the modernisation of farming," he said after the launching ceremony here today.

The launching ceremony was graced by special adviser to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman. Also present was NCIA chief executive officer Datuk Redza Rafiq.

Jaap said that the vegetable seeds produced by his company was not only of high quality, but also long-lasting and resistant to pests, and the soil also does not require additional fertiliser.

Among the seeds produced were salad, chillies, tomato, cucumber and onion.

He said that the research and logistics centre would be manned by 70 workers for the initial stage, and would further add more from time to time, according to the company's business development in the future.

Meanwhile, Zainal said the company’s decision to choose Penang as its logistisc hub was very much welcomed, as it will help the government to improve the modern farming.

"I believe NCIA will offer the necessary support and help to ensure the company’s operations will run smoothly while benefiting all parties," he said.