Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu (centre) poses for a photo after witnessing the exchange of memoranda of understanding between Nafas chief administrator Mohd Faizal Jakir (second from right), Nafas general manager Muhammad Faris Arriffin (left), Jiangsu Chemical Design Institute (CDIJS) chairman Zhu Xuefeng (third from right) and Guizhou Phosphate Chemical Group (GPC) Operations Scheduling Department director Shi Jia (right) at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) on Friday. Also present was Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (KPKM) deputy secretary general (Business development and investment) Khalid Ibrahim (third from left).
SERDANG (Sept 4): The National Farmers Organisation (Nafas) on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with China's Guizhou Phosphate Chemical Group Co Ltd (GPC) and Jiangsu Chemical Design Institute Co Ltd (CDIJS), involving an estimated investment value of RM1.5 billion to develop an integrated phosphate fertiliser industry in Malaysia.
The five-year strategic collaboration was formalised during the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Exhibition (Maha) 2026 at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (Maeps) here.
According to a fact sheet prepared by Nafas, the collaboration also includes the development of a phosphate fertiliser raw-material processing facility and securing a long-term supply of raw materials.
The initiative is expected to strengthen Malaysia’s fertiliser industry ecosystem and support efforts to enhance national food security.
Nafas was represented by its chief administrator Mohd Faizal Jakir and general manager Muhammad Faris Ariffin, while the Chinese parties were represented by CDIJS chairman Zhu Xuefeng, together with its chief engineer Chang Xianfeng and GPC director of Operation Scheduling Department, Shi Jia.
The signing was witnessed by Agriculture and Food Security Minister (KPKM) Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu and the ministry’s Business Development and Investment Division undersecretary Khalid Ibrahim.
The fact sheet stated that the strategic partnership encompasses raw material processing, technology transfer, local technical capacity building, and the exploration of downstream opportunities.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, Nafas signed three other MOUs with the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board (LPNM) and Meraque Sdn Bhd.
Its subsidiary, Malaysian NPK Fertilizer Sdn Bhd (MNFSB), also signed an MOU with Agricultural Chemical (M) Sdn Bhd, as well as a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi).
The agreements have a combined estimated investment value of RM121,550,039.
Separately, KPKM said in a statement that the achievements recorded during the eight days since Maha 2026 began demonstrated that the event serves not only as an exhibition and promotional platform for agri-food products, but also increasingly as a strategic platform connecting local industry players with international trading partners and investors.
It noted that with these achievements, Maha 2026 continues to solidify Malaysia's position as a destination for investment, trade and strategic collaboration in the global agriculture and agri-food sector.
Maha 2026 is held from Aug 28 to Sept 6, 2026.
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