THE federal government of Malaysia is planning to transform Kedah into a rubber hub by developing its upstream and downstream activities, Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mukhriz Tun Mahathir said.
Discussions between the ministry and the private sectors on the proposal of converting 16,000 has of rubber plantation from the Malaysian-Thai border to Baling are ongoing.
The ministry has already received RM13,000 from the private sector including mosques and NGOs .
Mukhriz will also be discussing with the Rubber Research Institute and universities, which were keen to set up an R&D centre for rubber.
He said he foresees Kedah becoming a major producer of high-quality rubber products.(RJA)
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