Pineapple Industry Offers Vast Investment Opportunities, Says Fama Dg

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's pineapple industry offers vast opportunities for investors with the increase in demand for the fruit, said Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority (FAMA) director-general Ahmad Ishak. He said demand for pineapples rose to 544,000 metric tonnes this year while the country only managed to supply about 434,000 metric tonnes. "FAMA aims to develop 700 hectares especially to plant pineapples to lessen the gap between the supply and demand. "We also aim to market the pineapples into China next year," he told reporters after the launch of Pineapple Festival here Friday. The festival, from Dec 9-11, 2011, will be held at 1Malaysia Cultural Village, Kuala Lumpur Tower. It aims to promote the uniqueness and benefits of the fruit among local and international visitors. Also present at the launch were Menara Kuala Lumpur Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Zuraidah Mohd Said and Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board deputy director-general Mahmud Kassim. -- BERNAMA