DILI, 30 october 2023 (TATOLI) – Malaysian businessman Datuk Junz Wong and his team are visiting Timor-Leste and have expressed their interest in investing in edible oil manufacturing in Timor-Leste.
The former Malaysian Minister of Agriculture and Food Technology, Datuk Junz Wong made the comments on the sidelines of a meeting with the President of the Republic, José Ramos Horta, at the Presidential Palace.
“We visited Timor-Leste to observe the situation. We met with the President of the Republic, Ramos Horta, to inform him about an investment opportunity for a cooking oil factory in the country. We intend to plant palm trees to produce the oil,” Datuk Wong said.
Datuk Wong also asked the Head of State to discuss with the government to make land available in the eastern part for planting palm trees: “Palm oil needs abundant water and the eastern part of Timor-Leste is a suitable place for planting palm trees.”
He said that if the Timorese government is willing to cooperate with investors in the future and establish a cooking oil factory, Timor-Leste will no longer import that food product from abroad.
“Timor-Leste has potential in the agricultural sector, which is why we need to develop it in order to reduce food imports. We also brought a guide that contains 10 ideas for development projects that we consider important and that have an impact on agricultural development in Timor-Leste,” he said.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
