CHENGDU, CHINA: Sichuan Vanov New Materials Co Ltd (BABO), one of China’s major bamboo fibre producers, is keen to invest in an integrated mill for the production of bamboo pulp and bamboo fibre-based products in Sarawak.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was inked on Sunday (May 26) to conduct a feasibility study on the proposed mill.
It was signed between G-COVE International Co Ltd (G-COVE), BABO and PUSAKA Timber Industries Sdn Bhd.
The signing ceremony was attended by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, who is also Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment, Second Minister for Urban Development and Natural Resources, and Chairman of Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) Management Board.
Awang Tengah in welcoming the move reiterated that Sarawak will facilitate BABO’s intention to further invest in the state.
“A technical committee comprising the relevant agencies will be formed to facilitate BABO to conduct a comprehensive study to develop a bamboo pulp mill in Sarawak.
“This investment will further catalyse the development of bamboo plantation and bamboo downstream processing industry in Sarawak,” he said in a statement.
BABO is one of the major bamboo fibre producers in China producing specialty bamboo-based products such as facial tissues, kitchen roll towels, soft towels, soft paper for infants and fibre wipes.
BABO has a bamboo pulp production capacity of about 300,000 tons per year requiring about one million tons of green bamboo sourced from renewable bamboo plantations through both commercial plantation and community farming.
Earlier, Awang Tengah was briefed on BABO’s operations by its group president Shen Gen Lian.
The delegation also visited BABO’s bamboo museum, which showcases the company’s journey in the bamboo industry and its various products.
He was accompanied by Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datuk Len Talif Salleh, ministry advisor Datuk Seri Naroden Majais, State Forestry Director Hamden Mohammad, and STIDC general manager Zainal Abidin Abdullah.
