Terengganu State Secretary YBM Tengku Seri Bijaya Raja has attended the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between East Coast Fertilizer Sdn Bhd (ECFSB) and Eastern Pacific Industrial Corporation Berhad (EPIC) and officiated the groundbreaking ceremony of the ECFSB fertilizer factory site in Teluk Kalong, Kemaman, representing Terengganu Menteri Besar YAB Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Samsuri bin Mokhtar. Also present to witness the MoU signing were State Agriculture, Food Industry, Plantation, Commodity and Rural Development Committee Chairman YB Dr. Azman bin Ibrahim; State Welfare, Women Development, Family and National Unity Committee Chairman YB Haji Hanafiah bin Mat; as well as Terengganu Menteri Besar Corporate Advisor and Menteri Besar, Trengganu (Incorporated) Chief Executive Officer Haji Mazli Zakuan bin Mohd Noor.

In attendance to showcase their support for the sustainable growth of the local industry were Terengganu Incorporated Sdn Bhd President and Executive Director Haji Burhanuddin Hilmi Mohamed @ Harun alongside a group of East Coast plantations players.

During the inking of the memorandum, EPIC was represented by its Group Chief Executive Officer Mr. Ridzuan bin Ali and Group Chief Operating Officer Haji Muhtar bin Suhaili, while ECFSB was represented by its Director Encik Muhammad Ramizu bin Mustaffa and Chief Executive Officer Haji Zaman bin Abdullah.

The signed MoU between the parties entails a land lease agreement for the establishment of ECFSB's fertilizer factory in Teluk Kalong. The estimated size of the factory is over 50,000 square feet, with an annual fertilizer production capacity of 50,000 metric tons and a maximum capacity of 100,000 metric tons per year.

In addition to the implementation of smart agriculture and the production of high quality as well as soil-appropriate fertilizers, this project will, both directly and indirectly, create 250 job opportunities. It is also expected to provide valuable technical experience, create new employment opportunities, and impart technical know-how to the younger generation in Terengganu.

The construction of the factory is scheduled to commence in early 2024, with an estimated cost of RM40 million and a construction period of 36 months. It is projected to generate a revenue of approximately RM100 million within the first year. The factory is expected to produce 30,000 metric tons of fertilizer during its first year, which will gradually increase as ECFSB strengthens its market presence in the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia.