Search

Batang Ai tilapia attracts China business group

Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp
Telegram
Email

KUCHING: A Malaysia/China joint venture business group, MatQtra International, is proposing to invest in Batang Ai tilapia fish commercial production via a collaboration with Sarawak Land Custody and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra).

The group executive chairman Tengku Ibrahim Petra and his deputy Zhang Rong Yang yesterday paid a courtesy call on Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah at his office here.

According to Tengku Ibrahim, the group based in Dalian, China, is keen to venture into fish fillet processing and marketing.

He said they had conducted a study in the Batang Ai hydro dam lake and were impressed with the quality of the tilapia there.

“Tilapia from other parts of the world cannot match its delicious taste.

“We brought along our technicians who testified that the breeding condition in the lake is very ideal,” Tengku Ibrahim said.

Uggah sharing a joke with Zhang who had offered him a box of tea. At right is Datuk Sebastian Ting who is a legal advisor to the group.

According to Tengku Ibrahim, MatQtra will bring its business partner Dalian Huaqi, whose processing plant is located in Zhuanghe Harbor Industrial Park in Liaoning Province, to provide the technology.

Dalian Huaqi’s main products are frozen fish fillets, portions and blocks from Alaska Pollock, Pacific Hake, Redfish, Cod, Chum and Pink Salmon, he said.

“These are sold to South and North America, Europe and some Asian countries.

“Its daily processing capability is 12,000 tonnes while its refrigerating capacity is 10,000 tonnes,” added Tengku Ibrahim.

Uggah, who is also Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Minister, said Sarawak has a lot of potential in aquaculture.

“Besides Batang Ai, we have Bakun, Murum and soon, the Baleh hydro dam lakes. We have many rivers as well,” he said.

He added that the government is considering to adopt the anchor company concept to develop its aquaculture sector.

“In this concept, the anchor company will develop its supply chain, set up collection centres, process the fish before exporting the finished products to its already established markets,” he said.

He hoped to meet the group after the Hari Raya celebration for the details of its proposal.

Zhang later passed an invitation letter to Uggah to visit the Dalian Huaqi plant in China.

Also present were Salcra general manager Datuk Vasco Sabat and his deputy Joseph Blandoi.

Download from Apple Store or Play Store.