Latest news with #agrofood
Malay Mail
09-07-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Malaysia Fest 2025 in Singapore aims for RM15m sales, 180,000 visitors
SINGAPORE, July 9 — The Malaysia Fest 2025 expo at the Singapore Expo Convention Centre is targeting 180,000 visitors and RM15 million in direct sales during its eighth edition, said Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) chairman Aminuddin Zulkipli. He said the four-day expo, which begins on July 31, is organised by MegaXpress International in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security through Fama, and will feature 321 booths showcasing Malaysian agrofood products, tourism offerings, as well as health and beauty items 'The objective of this programme is to provide a platform for Malaysian entrepreneurs to promote their products to consumers in Singapore, while also offering opportunities to build business networks and connect with potential importers,' he said at the pre-launch press conference for Malaysia Fest on Tuesday. Aminuddin said Fama will bring 10 tonnes of tropical and seasonal fruits to the expo, including products featured for the first time such as limau susu from Sarawak, Pitaya Twin from Negeri Sembilan, and Abiu fruit from Johor, along with 1,500 stock keeping units (SKUs). He stated that Fama also plays a role in conducting market intelligence on the marketability and competitiveness of products produced by Malaysian entrepreneurs in the Singapore market during the expo. Meanwhile, the High Commissioner of Malaysia to Singapore, Datuk Dr Azfar Mohamad Mustafar, said that Malaysian products — especially fruits — have consistently found a place in the republic, as evidenced by the increase in trade value from around RM400 million in 2020 to nearly RM500 million in 2023. 'There is certainly great potential for Malaysian products here, perhaps because Singaporeans have greater purchasing power, with some of the fruits brought here being relatively expensive to sell in the Malaysian market,' he said. He added that the expo will also serve as a platform to help Malaysian micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs break into the Singapore market, in addition to promoting Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VMY2026). On another front, the Director of Tourism Malaysia (Singapore), Norliza Md Zain, said that this year the agency will bring 16 companies from the tourism sector to participate in the expo to market their packages to consumers in Singapore. The expo will, among other things, feature the participation of local celebrities such as Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin, Datuk Seri Hasmiza Othman (Datuk Seri Vida), Datuk Seri Aliff Syukri Kamarzaman, and Datuk Khadijah Ibrahim Malaysia Fest 2025, themed 'Unlock The Treasures of Malaysia', will take place from July 31 to August 3 at Halls 5A and 5B of the Singapore Expo, from 10am to 10pm. — Bernama
Arabian Business
11-06-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
Invictus Investment plans a third acquisition in Africa by the end of 2025
Dubai-headquartered Invictus Investment has revealed its plan to make a third acquisition this year in Africa, following its purchase of Merec Industries in Mozambique and the signing of an agreement to acquire 65 per cent of Angata in Angola. The company, which is present across a diversified commodity portfolio with activities along the entire value chain, including origination, processing and trading, said it is 'on a journey to expand our presence and capabilities across key African markets'. In a filing with the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), Invictus said it was pursuing an ambitious growth strategy – both organic and inorganic – to increase the company's revenue fivefold to AED 25 billion (US$6.8 billion) by 2028, using its 2023 performance as a baseline. The goal is to become a fully integrated agro-food enterprise in the Middle East and Africa. New markets and growth priorities 'We are constantly evaluating investment opportunities within the agro-food value chain with the aim of expanding our business both up and down the vertical to become a fully integrated business,' the company said in the statement. 'The Angata, Merec Industries and Graderco (60 per cent stake purchased last year) acquisitions are prime examples of this strategy in action as they strengthen our market position in the region and provide us with strong local warehousing and distribution capabilities. 'Building on this, we will continue to invest in midstream and downstream assets in the value chain in key African markets, targeting the acquisition of majority stakes in ventures valued between US$200-300 million to broaden our market presence and product portfolio – with plans for a third acquisition in the basic foods segment this year.' Over the past two years, Invictus expanded its trading operations into several new markets, including Burundi, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania and Turkey. Most recently, it entered Angola, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Jordan, Madagascar, Mauritania, the Netherlands, Senegal, South Africa and Zimbabwe, bringing its global reach to 65 markets. North Africa and key coastal markets will be an area of focus for the company in the near term. 'North Africa's proximity to key grain origins combined with established port infrastructure and growing demand for wheat-based products, makes it a strategic priority for us,' the statement added. 'We also recognise the importance of having a strong presence in coastal markets, which offer advantages such as access to key trade routes, reduced logistics costs and regional distribution opportunities. Expanding in these areas will help us build a more resilient supply chain and support our long-term growth plans.' Invictus drives unprecedented growth For the full year 2024, Invictus reported AED 8.9 billion in revenue – its highest since listing and a jump of 10.1 per cent from FY2023. Commodity transaction volumes increased by 51.8 per cent to a record 8.2 million metric tonnes in 2024 (5.4 million metric tonnes in 2023). Citing unaudited results, Invictus said it has maintained the upward momentum in 2025. 'We delivered a strong start to the year building on the positive momentum from our robust 2024 financial and operational results. In the first quarter of 2025, our revenues increased by more than 35 per cent YoY – our highest to date as a listed company. Growth was driven by strong performance across our product segments and key markets,' the statement added. 'Commodity transaction volumes almost doubled compared to the same period last year – in a reflection of the successful execution of our diversification strategy and the increased output from our recent acquisitions. We also delivered healthy profitability in the quarter with our net profit growing by approximately 23 per cent YoY. 'Looking ahead, we are confident in sustaining this growth trajectory throughout the remainder of the year. Our broader geographic reach and continued focus on vertical integration position us well to capitalise on the strong fundamentals and rising food demand across our markets.'
