FELCRA Berhad should become a leader in food supply industry - PM Najib

The government wants FELCRA Berhad to be one of the major leaders in the country's food security industry, particularly in the supply of chicken, meat and food crops, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The Prime Minister believed that based on the agency's strength, it could provide a significant contribution in reducing the import of food products in a more efficient and systematic manner.

"The import value of food items last year rose to more than RM45.4 billion and because of this, the government wants Felcra Berhad to become one of the major producers in the nation's food security industry," he said when officiating Felcra's 50th Anniversary celebration at the Putra World Trade Centre, here today.

In conjunction with its 50th anniversary, the Prime Minister wanted the agency to continue to move ahead by giving more attention to the programme to increase the settlers' income.

He pointed out that one of the measures carried out was the setting up of a RM6 million fund for economic loans since 2009 for entrepreneurs wishing to expand their businesses. - BERNAMA