MAG控股有限公司（简称“MAG控股”或“该集团”或“该公司”）今日与林虾集团（LIM Shrimp Organization Limited）签署一项投资条款清单，该公司建议投资Lim Shrimp Aquapolis私人有限公司（简称“LSA”）50%股权，并与PT Gerbang NTB Emas（简称“PT GNE”）合资，在印尼松巴瓦（Sumbawa）开展虾类养殖和加工业务。

林虾集团主要从事鱼类养殖场和屠宰场的运营，LSA业务则是提供管理咨询服务和水产养殖乡镇发展的咨询。

MAG控股执行董事黄敏麟指出：“这项投资价值610万新元（约2200万令吉）。通过战略投资LSA以及和PT GNE联盟，我们可将养虾业务的版图拓展到马来西亚以外的市场。这是MAG扩大投资组合的重要一步，展现了本集团对养虾业蓬勃发展的未来充满信任，并承诺实现业务增长，为股东带来可持续的价值。”

根据所签署的投资条款清单，从虾类加工和冷藏厂开始投运的4年内，LSA保证平均每年会取得至少200万新元（约690万令吉）的税后净利。若是这4年的净利总额不足，林虾集团承诺弥补，确保此次合作让MAG控股获利。

同时，林虾集团还进一步保证，总资本开销和营运资本需求不会超过2000万美元，确保风险奖励的平衡，让所有合作方皆有利可图。

与PT GNE的战略联盟方面，将会在印尼成立PMA公司，LSA持有其中20%的股权。PT GNE将从西努沙登加拉省（West Nusa Tenggara）获得独家许可权，以在印尼松巴瓦岛开展和营运一座虾类加工和冷藏厂。

PT GNE会负责向西努沙登加拉银行安排融资总项目成本的一半款项，并确保PMA公司从商业投运起的3年内享有免税地位。该公司还会负责取得所有必要的许可证和提供基础设施，让该虾类加工和冷藏厂顺利运行。

不仅如此，PT GNE还会推进Badas港口的升级，以便能处理20英尺的冷藏集装箱，并与MAG控股合作加工和出口虾类至全球主要市场，如美国丶欧盟丶中国和澳洲。

黄敏麟表示：“有我们专业团队和股东始终如一的支持作为后盾，我们相信这项重大投资将在中长期内带来可持续的价值和可观的收益。”

KUALA LUMPUR: The domestic demand for locally-bred shrimps still far exceeds the supply in Malaysia's marine shrimp aquaculture market, as the sector still needs to overcome several challenges in production and meet local demand.

MAG Holding Bhd (MHB) executive chairman Stephen Ng Min Lin said Malaysia's marine shrimp aquaculture market faces three key challenges - diseases such as white spot syndrome and early mortality syndrome, sustainability and intense market competition.

"On disease, we are tackling this through biosecurity measures, investment in health management practices and teaming up with external professional parties in the research and development (R&D) effort to enhance our farming activities.

"Secondly, sustainability is a challenge, with the need to balance productive farming with environmental preservation.

"To address this, we are deploying technologies to increase efficiency and lessen environmental impact.

"And, as market competition intensifies, locally and internationally, our strategy is to differentiate ourselves through superior product quality and sustainable farming practices," he told The New Straits Times.

Data shows that Malaysia's marine shrimp aquaculture market is expected to reach RM1.99 billion in 2025 from RM1.13 billion in 2020, at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.9 per cent.

The domestic frozen seafood market, which stood at RM2.16 billion in 2020, is expected to reach RM2.64 billion in 2025 at a CAGR of 4.1 per cent.

Further, the global shrimp and seafood market size is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2 per cent from 2019 to 2025.

The increased health awareness among consumers is the major driver for the seafood market's growth.