Johor set to be main food supplier to Singapore and UAE

JOHOR BARU: Singapore and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have shown interest to make Johor as their main food supplier in the near future.

Mentri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad said the state government had already initiated discussions with both countries.

He said it would give new opportunities to food industry players in the state.

“Singapore and UAE are now focusing on ensuring food supplies to their respective countries, and if we look at Johor’s location, we are their best choice, in particular for the island republic.

“Once an agreement has been reached, it will create new opportunities for those in the food industry,” he said in his speech before officiating the Soil Science Conference of Malaysia 2020 at a hotel here.

Hasni stressed that before making it happen, Johor must strengthen its food security plan not only for Malaysia but also for across the Causeway.

Realising the importance of ensuring food security, Hasni said that the state government announced various initiatives as one of the key components under Makmur Johor.

The initiatives will benefit producers of agriculture products, farmers, fishermen, consumers and everyone else involved in the supply food chain, for local and international markets.

“This is because at the present moment, Singapore already imports more than RM500mil worth of food and food products from us each month.

“Johor’s strategic location is a preferred choice for Singapore not only in terms of food supply but also for various industries such as properties, manufacturing and services,” he added.