KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 (Bernama) -- Low Yat Group in collaboration with MARDI jointly launched MARDI Agropreneurs Products Showcase 2016 which enables 30 youth Agropreneurs a platform to showcase Malaysian agro-based products for the next two weeks from 26th-28th May and 2nd to 4th June at Riverwalk Village, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah (formerly 3rd Mile Jalan Ipoh), Kuala Lumpur.

The official launch is graced by YBhg Dato’ Dr. Sharif Bin Haron, Director General of MARDI, Dr Ahmad Safuan Bin Bujang, Deputy Director of MARDI Youth Agropreneurs Program, and Ms Low Su Ming, Executive Director of Low Yat Group’s property division. Other attendees include Directors and Management teams of MARDI and Low Yat Group, and participants of MARDI Youth Agropreneurs programme as well as Members of the Media.

Youth Agropreneur Unit (Program Agropreneur Muda) is a nationwide initiative under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture with the main aim of encouraging and inculcating interest among youth from the ages of 18-40 years old, to venture into agro-related business activities. These activities include livestock rearing (chicken, beef, lamb and venison), fertigation (fruit and vegetable crops) and agro-based food products (frozen food, paste, sauces, premixes, etc).

With generation of income a focal point in this initiative, the program also targets lesser dependency on foreign imports of food commodities to safeguard the nation’s food security. Agencies like MARDI are tasked to organize trainings, short-courses, technical consultancies, as well as facilitating application of grants to achieve these goals. Furthermore, this program also provides platforms and avenues for agropreneurs to promote their products and expand their marketing network. This is done through many activities including roadshows, exhibitions and product showcases nationwide.

www.mardi.gov.my
www.lowyatgroup.com.my

The collaboration between MARDI and Low Yat Group is a significant private-governmental initiative - a perfect merger of entities - that can benefit small and medium entrepreneurs such as MARDI’s Youth Entrepreneurs in accessing new networks and markets, as well as expanding their brand awareness.

This joint event is Low Yat Group’s first initiative to support MARDI in providing technology leadership to young generation entrepreneur involved in the development of food and agriculture sectors through technology transfer and facility utilization. It is a continuous initiative by MARDI to create and develop competent young entrepreneur. The collaboration will enable MARDI and Low Yat Group to further spin-off new ideas and other joint initiatives or cross selling opportunities across its varied business activities, both locally and abroad, in the near future.

In conjunction with the launch of MARDI Agropreneurs Products Showcase 2016, MARDI has selected 30 youth agropreneurs to showcase a total of about 100 their unique and attractive food and agro based products in this event.

The public and stakeholders will also be able to participate through a product survey that will be used to gauge and assess product appeal, quality and value. This will provide vital feedback to help these agropreneurs to improve and enhance their product.

This program will be held over the last weekend of May (26 to 28th May 2016) and the first weekend of June (2 to 4th June 2016) from 10 am to 6pm at Riverwalk Village. Selected product demos and cash voucher giveaways every are also included during this event to ensure that not only it will be an engaging experience for the participants involved, but also an eye-opening and captivating experience for the public.

www.mardi.gov.my
www.lowyatgroup.com.my

About MARDI
MARDI is a statutory body which has been mandated to conduct research in agriculture, food and agro-based industries. MARDI research endeavors for almost 40 years had fruitfully generated many new crop varieties and clones, animal breeds and its management practices. Cutting edge technologies in food processing and post-harvest handling are also developed for horticultural and livestock products. ICT technologies are being exploited in farm management and operations such as “precision farming” technology for rice estate, and yield estimation, using the imaging technology. New techniques are being developed in environmental management and optimum utilization of agricultural resources particularly soil, water and genetic resources. MARDI also provides technical services and entrepreneurship development in food, agriculture and other fields related to the industry. The technical services are in the forms of advisory, consultancy, technical trainings, analytical laboratory services and quality assurance, product development and processing and also technology upscaling. Farmers and entrepreneurs that had adopted MARDI technologies also concomitantly contribute to the development of the national food, agriculture and agro-based industries. This has made the agricultural sector a compelling contributor to the national economy.

MARDI’s Unit Agropreneur Muda ( UAM ) was established by the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry with a vision to create Young Agropreneurs who are progressive, competitive, creative, innovative and generating high income in the agricultural sector.

About Low Yat Group
Established in 1947, Low Yat Group is one of the largest privately - owned groups in Malaysia with diversified principle activities in hospitality, retail, property development and plantation. Low Yat Group prides itself with 69 years of experience in delivering products of quality and service excellence.

The Group also fashioned the prestigious Fairlane Hospitality brand that services and maintains its property to the highest standards. The Low Yat Group has expanded into the local and international markets with several residential and commercial developments in Malaysia, Australia, China and Japan.
Federal Hotels International has been at the forefront of the Malaysia hospitality industry since the opening of The Federal Kuala Lumpur in 1957. The Group opened the Grace Sydney and Hotel Capitol Kuala Lumpur, both in 1997. One of Low Yat Group’s most prominent developments in the heart of Kuala Lumpur is undeniably Plaza Low Yat, Malaysia’s largest IT and best value lifestyle mall that hosts over 500 retail outlets operating with in the 7 themed floors.

Currently, the Group’s flagship project is Tribeca Serviced Suites Bukit Bintang while Bandar Tasik Puteri is one of the largest townships in Rawang spanning across 2,670 acres of mixed residential and commercial development. The colossal township is also complemented with a remarkable 27-hole course at Tasik Puteri Golf & Country Club. Low Yat Group’s foray into the agriculture resources sector begun with the acquisition of oil palm plantation in East Kalimantan, Indonesia to sustain earnings and competitiveness beyond the property development sector. Several other plans are on the way for the group to enter other sectors and industries and expand its forte.

SOURCE : Low Yat Group 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: 
Name : Sheena RB
Marketing Communications, Media, A&P
Tel: +6012 2795058

Name: Mohd Aizat Mohd Zawawi
MARDI PR Officer
Tel: +6012 3371797
Email: mohaizat@mardi.gov.my

Low Yat Group PR
Tel: +603 40483600

Name: Pauline
Tel: +6016 753 4819

--BERNAMA