Sarawak's first mozzarella cheese plant in Merapok set to start production this August
LAWAS (May 15): The Green Valley Dairy Farm, Sarawak's pioneer cheese producer, is set to roll out its first batch of mozzarella cheese from its processing plant in Merapok here this August.
Deputy Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail said this production will put the RM16-million facility located at the Meragang Buffalo Breeding Station on the international radar as a producer of quality buffalo milk mozzarella for international markets.
'This facility will position Lawas as the largest mozzarella cheese producer in the Southeast Asian region, targeting exports to European and regional markets.
'With financing from Agro Bank, the installation of this cheese processing equipment will begin this June, and production is targeted to come on stream in August,' he said after a working visit to the Meragang Buffalo Breeding Station on Wednesday.
Accompanying him were Lawas MP Datuk Henry Sum Agong and Lawas Veterinary officer Robine Asut.
Dr Abdul Rahman added that the Meragang station will house over 700 Murrah buffaloes from Australia, including over 200 heads in the first phase.
'More than 200 Murrah buffaloes imported from Australia are currently being quarantined in Miri, and are expected to be brought to Lawas by the end of this month.
'Meanwhile, for the second phase, the Veterinary Department will receive more than 500 buffaloes of the same species by the end of the year, bringing the total number of buffaloes we expect being placed at the Meragang station close to 1,000,' he said.
Murrah buffaloes can produce between 16 litres to 20 litres of milk daily compared to the current paddy buffaloes, which produce less than six litres per day.
Mozzarella cheese is currently processed in Langkawi and is halal, as well as produced on a small scale in Selangor. The upcoming Lawas production will be the biggest in the country.
In view of this, the Green Valley Dairy Farm has linked up with potential buyers from the Middle East, Africa, and Europe for export of its mozzarella cheese products through the global trade network in Dubai. Green Valley Dairy Farm merapok Mozzarella cheese
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
European powers set for fresh nuclear talks with Iran amid tensions
BERLIN: European powers are preparing for fresh talks with Iran regarding its nuclear programme, marking the first diplomatic engagement since the US attacked Iranian nuclear facilities last month. A German diplomatic source confirmed that Britain, France, and Germany, collectively known as the E3, are coordinating with Tehran to schedule discussions in the coming week. The E3 recently warned of reactivating international sanctions if Iran refuses to return to negotiations. Iran's Tasnim news agency also reported that Tehran agreed to hold talks with the three European nations, though details on the timing and location remain under discussion. 'Iran must never be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon. That is why Germany, France and the United Kingdom are continuing to work intensively in the E3 format to find a sustainable and verifiable diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear programme,' the German source said. Tensions escalated after Israel launched surprise strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites in June, followed by US attacks on Iran's uranium enrichment facility at Fordo and other nuclear locations. These developments disrupted earlier negotiations mediated by Oman. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Ali Larijani, a top adviser to Iran's supreme leader, to discuss regional stability and the nuclear standoff. The Kremlin stated that Putin reiterated Russia's stance on resolving the crisis diplomatically. The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which imposed restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief, has been under strain since the US withdrew in 2018. European nations have threatened to trigger the deal's 'snapback' mechanism to reimpose sanctions if Iran fails to comply. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed the threat, stating that Europe lacks legal or moral grounds for such action. However, the German source maintained that 'if no solution is reached over the summer, snapback remains an option for the E3.' Iran has also ruled out new talks with the US if they demand an end to uranium enrichment.
Malaysia Sun
7 hours ago
- Malaysia Sun
Iran agrees to resume nuclear talks with European states media
France, Germany, and the UK are threatening to reimpose sanctions on the Islamic Republic unless it agrees to a deal in August Iran, France, Germany, and the UK have agreed to resume talks regarding Tehran's nuclear program next week, Tasnim News Agency reported on Sunday, citing an anonymous source. The time and location are still under negotiation, but the talks are expected to take place at the level of deputy foreign ministers from Iran and the three European countries, according to the agency. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot warned last week that the three European countries - known collectively as the E3 - would reactivate UN sanctions on Iran unless a nuclear deal is reached by the end of next month. "France and its partners are... justified in reapplying global embargoes on weapons, banks, and nuclear equipment that were lifted 10 years ago," he told reporters in Brussels on Tuesday. He added that this would be done "by the end of August at the latest." The E3 have the ability to use a 'snapback' mechanism to reinstate sanctions lifted from Iran under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015, in exchange for the curtailment of the country's nuclear program. The original guarantors of the agreement were the E3 countries, Russia, China, the US, and EU. However, during his first term in office, President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the agreement. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has urged the E3 states and the EU to "act responsibly" and stop using threats, arguing that they have "no moral or legal basis" for using the snapback mechanism. "It was the US that withdrew from a two-year negotiated deal - coordinated by the EU in 2015 - not Iran," he said in a Telegram post on Friday. "It was the US that left the negotiation table in June this year and chose a military option instead." READ MORE: Iran sets terms for resuming nuclear talks US-Iran nuclear talks brokered by Oman collapsed last month shortly after Israel attacked Iran on June 13, claiming it was preempting the development of a nuclear bomb - an accusation that the Islamic Republic has denied. The US joined the conflict on June 22 and bombed three major Iranian nuclear facilities. (
Malaysia Sun
21 hours ago
- Malaysia Sun
Chinese automakers drive green mobility in Thailand, says Thai expert
A Thai auto industry expert has highlighted China's world-class expertise in EV technology, particularly in battery systems and industrial-scale manufacturing, which is complemented by Thailand's geographic advantages, skilled labor, and robust government support. BANGKOK, July 20 (Xinhua) -- The growing presence of Chinese automakers in Thailand has marked a crucial milestone in collaborative efforts toward green mobility and deepening of ties with China, a Thai auto industry expert has said. Suroj Sangsnit, president of the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT), described the partnership as a testament to the systematic development of electric vehicle ecosystem and a strategic step toward advancing shared environmental goals. In a recent interview with Xinhua, Suroj highlighted China's world-class expertise in EV technology, particularly in battery systems and industrial-scale manufacturing, which is complemented by Thailand's geographic advantages, skilled labor, and robust government support. This synergy, he said, enables both countries to collaborate across the entire EV value chain, from vehicle production and infrastructure development to battery recycling. The arrival of Chinese manufacturers, offering "advanced technology, accessible prices, and swift product deployment," has made EVs more attainable for the average Thai consumer, fostering wider adoption, he said. That has also spurred investment in infrastructure such as charging stations, battery repair services, EV maintenance education, and parts manufacturing, he noted. In the first half of 2025, new registrations of pure electric passenger vehicles in Thailand increased nearly 35 percent over the same period last year, reaching 55,708 units, of which Chinese brands accounted for almost 90 percent, official data showed. Over the past few years, several Chinese automakers have established production facilities in Thailand, significantly bolstering the Southeast Asian country's ambition to become a regional electric mobility hub. Suroj underscored the EVAT's role in fostering regional integration within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations by creating a network with its counterparts. He noted that the goal is to develop common standards and enable cross-border infrastructure, such as charging roaming. Suroj emphasized that EV cooperation will be a cornerstone of future cooperation. He envisioned collaborative efforts in technologies, including solid-state batteries, intelligent EV platforms, and battery recycling solutions, with the establishment of joint research and development centers in Thailand.
