Multifaceted Malaysian company eying Guyana – officials hold talks with President
Georgetown, GINA, April 23, 2012
Inspired by the similarities of vastness in forest resources and the promotion of sustainable forestry practices, Malaysia’s largest multifaceted company Wee Boon Ping Group of Companies has indicated its willing to partner with Guyana.
Starting off as a logging company in 1976, Wee Boon Ping Group of Companies has since diversified operations into reforestation as part of efforts to promote sustainable management of forestry practices bioscience, property development and construction among other ventures.
The group owns 109,000 hectares (269,230 acres) of virgin forest land, approximately two times the size of Singapore and, one of the largest rubber plantations in the world. To date four million rubber trees have been planted on 11,000 hectares with a target of 12 million trees on 35,000 hectares.
President Donald Ramotar speaking with officials of the Wee Boon Ping Group of Companies in Malaysia in the company of Minister of Agriculture Dr. Leslie Ramsammy and Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Robert Persaud
Chairman of the Company Sir Datuk Wee Kok Tiong, the third generation successor to the family owned business, led a team to the Office of the President for a courtesy visit to President Ramotar in the presence of Minister of Agriculture Dr. Leslie Ramsammy and Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Robert Persaud.
He told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that an operation like his in a country as resourceful as Guyana can yield benefits for the economy, especially in the area of job opportunities.
He however, regarded it as a long - term investment that will require the partnership of the Government and people of Guyana.
The scale of his operations in Malaysia has created employment for over 2000 and, according to Sir Tiong, the size is likely to increase enormously with his plans for expansion.