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Brunei Darussalam’s Margarine Plant Begins Operation

Brunei Darussalam’s strategic location at the heart of Southeast Asia, good trade relations with its neighbours and peaceful environment, are some of the factors that attracted a Turkish company to make an investment decision to set up a base in Brunei. Marsa Yağ Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi, a food manufacturing company and a leading producer of margarine, oil and fats based in Istanbul has decided to establish Western Foods and Packaging Sdn Bhd (WFP) in Brunei to manufacture and process margarine.

The plant, located on a 1.9 hectares of land at the Serasa Industrial Site was officially opened by His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office on Saturday, 18th November 2017.

WFP is capable of producing 200 tonnes of margarine per day at full capacity. The products, which are Halal-certified by the Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB) are intended to serve the growing global market demand for quality Halal food products.

His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, briefed by Dr Zeki Ziya Sozen, Director of WFP during a tour of the plant


The management building and cold warehouse

WFP is a wholly owned subsidiary of Marsa and its shareholders include Yildiz Holding, one of Turkey’s leading food conglomerates, as majority owner and the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam through the Strategic Development Capital (SDC) Fund under the Ministry of Finance.

72 locals are currently employed at WFP which represents 96% of the company’s total work force. WFP is also looking into downstream opportunities for its products which can be used as ingredients to make biscuits, chocolates, pastries and ice cream. The plant by-products can also be used as chicken feed and to make soap and detergent. WFP’s products will also be the first margarine and edible oil products to be exported from Brunei Darussalam.

The latest joint-venture project will help spur the country’s economic growth in sectors outside oil and gas and create more job opportunities for the locals. With its modern factory and state-of-the-art technology, the plant has the capacity to double its production to cater for the export markets.

For the production of margarine, the main raw material which is palm oil, has to be imported while the finished product will be mainly exported to the Asian region and beyond.

Some of the local employees of WFP

For Brunei Darussalam, the establishment of the plant is a significant development as it will open up many possibilities and support many other businesses and trade. WFP is also looking into downstream opportunities for its products which can be used as ingredients to make biscuits, chocolates, pastries and ice cream. Its by-products can also be used as chicken feed and to make soaps and detergents.

Marsa has been one of Turkey’s pioneers of food production since 1926. While the products were initially produced for local consumption, the company began exporting in 1969. Today the company also produces shortening, sunflower oil, olive oil, ghee, pasta, flour, powder soup, desserts and semolina. Its products have been exported to more than 65 countries spanning five continents. The company aims to strengthen its stand in the world markets through its advanced production technology, world-standard quality and new products.

Ministry of Finance

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