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Covering
an area of six acres, a massive field of red dusty soil
is about to emerge as the region's latest coffee hub as
Haco Asia Pacific Sdn. Bhd. (HAPSB) turns to this part of
Kota Kemuning Industrial Park for the establishment of its
production facility of soluble coffee. HAPSB of Haco Group
has already invested RM120mil for the project so far, thus
ensuring an efficient rate of production of soluble coffee
for local and export markets ranging from Thailand and the
Phillipines to Australia and Japan.
"Thailand
is growing their own coffee and even Vietnam has their coffee,"
says Haco President, Dr. Peter H Speck. "In Malaysia,
not much coffee is grown," explains Dr. Speck when
asked on Haco Group's decision to locate its plant in Selangor.
"But the most important thing is we are allowed
to import coffee. In this business, we need to get supplies
from all over the world because it is vital for a company
like us to be able to produce different kinds of coffee
taste to cater the needs of our clients and most importantly,
sustain the quality that is Haco".
Flexibility,
according to Dr. Speck, is not the only reason that influenced
Haco's decision to locate its regional hub in Kota Kemuning.
"Asia is growing fast. Haco is already in Europe
and the United State and there's a need to have a chain
and sustain a market in Asia", he explains.
"Of course, we looked into the country's political
stability among other things, besides the currency stability
and its import-export trade. Singapore did fit our needs
but it is costly. Malaysia attracted us more, especially
for land acquisition purposes which we need to expand our
businesses in the near future and which is not limited to
coffee production".
Selangor's
socio-economic growth and development, besides its logistic
capabilities caught the interest of the group's long term
investment plans. "From Singapore, we came across
the border to Johor which was fine. But then, somebody suggested
Selangor" and now that the group had made Selangor
its Asia Pacific Regional Base, what does he think of the
group's decision?
"There's
nothing wrong with Selangor," he exclaims. "It's
heaven and it has the potential for business expansion as
the facilities are of international standards".
"I
came here in January 2004, looked at three different spots
and I left the next day with decision, a plant site and
an agreement, all hassle free. In Selangor, everything went
smoothly and we were given assistance whenever we needed
it and the efficiency made things easier for us".
"Only
last May 2005, we had the ground breaking for the new plant
and the pace of construction is amazing. If we were to have
built plant like this in Europe, it would have taken us
twice as long. Just to acquire a piece of land, you have
to wait for weeks or even months. Here in Selangor, the
authorities have made sure thaht things have gone smoothly.
as a result of this, I believe by anuary 2006 our newest
plant can start operations".
Established
in 1922, Haco Group produces bouillons, soups, sauces, ready-to-eat
dishes, cereal bars, breakfast beverages and food ingredients
besides instant coffee, decaffeinated coffee and tea for
the retail trade, food services companies, food industry
and large companies for private label products.
In
fact, the company's soluble coffee is being used by many
world famous labels, including in the production of drinks,
ice-creams and cakes.
Selangor,
according to Dr. Speck, is the perfect location for Haco's
headquaters in Asia. In particular, the plant's Shah Alam
location has fulfilled the group's needs, especially with
its location close to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport
(KLIA) with its strategically important international air
connections.
Those
factors, he notes, created a platform for further business
expansion, including their second stage plan to establish
their sales office and later, producing other haco products.
He points out that the company started off with its coffee
plant portion of its Asian plans as it was the most complicated
component whereby a lot of infrastructure was needed in
the form of energy, cooling and storage facilities.
He
brushes off the suggestion that Haco is the leading producer
in coffee products, instead stating that they "do
not make cheap coffee but top quality coffee".
As the business becomes fully operational soon, it will
not only create employment opportunities but the transfer
of technical knowledge will also be possible, thus doing
its part towards making Selangor Maju 2005 as reality.
~End~
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