Pekanbaru, Riau (ANTARA News) - The Malaysian government through Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) has recommended its herbal medicine company Bio Alpha to build a herbal medicine factory in the regency of Kampar, Riau.

"Hopefully in the next several months construction will start," Abdul Rahman Yasir, Senior Vice President of MTDC said here on Tuesday.

The factory will be built by phases with the first phase to cost U.S.$3 million, Abdul Rahman said.

Rahman said later there will be investment in opening 51 hectares of herb plantation in the area of Sungai Pinang, sub-district of Tambang, Kampar.

"The land will be cultivated with herb plants such as turmeric, pasak bumi (aphrodisiac)ginger, etc." he said.

There are also medicinal herbs from Malaysia that could not be found in Indonesia, he added.

Bio Alpha executive William Hon said his company has produced various types of herbal medicines in Malaysia and has exported part of its production to various countries.

"Our products have even entered the Chinese market," William said.

The market is potential that the company is prompted to open more production facilities in neighboring countries including in Kampar, Indonesia , he said.

"I see Kampar is highly potential for cultivation of medicinal herbs," he added.

Kampar Regent Jefry Noer said he supports the plan hoping that the project will help open more jobs for local people.

"The factory will certainly need workers and it will provides market for the herbal products of local farmers," he said.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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