Asia Plantation Capital Announce a Joint Venture to Sustainably Cultivate the Endangered Aquilaria Sinesis Trees in Malaysia

SINGAPORE, June 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Asia Plantation Capital Sdn Bhd announced a joint venture to cultivate the endangered Aquilaria Sinesis tree with an existing Malaysia plantation owner. Asia Plantation Capital will take over management, inoculation and harvesting of the Malacca plantation's Aquilaria Sinesis trees. This joint venture is part of a S$50 million Asia Plantation Capital strategy to invest and expand operations in Malaysia over the next few years.

Endangered but in high demand, the Aquilaria species of tree is used for many purposes, including Traditional Chinese Medicines, high end incense sticks and even as a base ingredient in some of the latest luxury artisan fragrance from high end perfume brands around the world. Asia Plantation Capital brings its expertise in sustainable cultivation, knowledge of trading within stringent international regulations and best-in-class inoculation techniques that is recognized as being one of the best in the industry for the Aquilaria tree.

"We are very pleased to be partnering with Asia Plantation Capital to cultivate the Aquilaria Sinesis trees on our plantations. Asia Plantation Capital's research into the inoculation and management of the Aquilaria species by their Global Scientific Advisory Board is very impressive. Their inoculation process delivers 100% success with every tree," said the Malacca plantation's spokesperson. "Asia Plantation Capital's success together with its recent attainment of Sharia compliance for one of their products awarded by IBFIM, convinced us that they were the partners of choice for us in Malaysia."

Asia Plantation Capital has been actively expanding its operations in Malaysia as part of its strategic growth plan in Asia. Recently opening a factory and distillery in Johor, the harvested trees from this joint venture will be processed at the new Johor facilities and marketed both locally and internationally. Asia Plantation Capital will also look to partner with other local plantation owners and provide them with Asia Plantation Capital's systems, techniques and sustainable approach.

"At Asia Plantation Capital, we have been and continue to propagate the Aquilaria species of trees through sustainable cultivation and reintroducing it back to its native lands," said Mr Steve Watts, Chief Executive Officer, Asia Plantation Capital Asia Pacific. "We are very excited about this opportunity to expand our operations in Malaysia through this joint venture. Through this partnership, we intend to develop a showcase plantation of Aquilaria Sinesis trees here in Malaysia. This will include the building of a nursery to grow saplings for the plantation."

Notes for Editors:

For further information, please contact:-

Adrian Heng
Group Marketing Director
Email: adrian.heng@asiaplantationcapital.com
Office: +65 6222 3386
Mobile: +65 9750 7440

Zureina Maidin
PR & Marketing Director, Malaysia
Email: zureina.maidin@asiaplantationcapital.com
Mobile: +6013 774 1009

About Asia Plantation Capital

Quick facts:

• US$ 600 million - combined value of assets owned and under management
• US$ 53.5 million - turnover in the last financial year
• US$ 100 million - turnover forecast for current financial year
• 2,000,000 - Aquilaria trees today, on Agarwood plantations.

Asia Plantation Capital (APC) is the owner and operator of a diverse range of commercial plantation and farming businesses across the Asia-Pacific region and around the world, and is part of the Asia Plantation Capital Group of associated companies. Its focus is on multicultural and diverse plantation projects geared to the domestic and commercial demands of the countries in which it operates. Working closely with, and supporting local communities, is an underlying core principle of the APC business, providing social and cultural support, as well as investment, to move these communities away from deforestation and illegal logging activities, previously seen as a main source of income in some regions of Asia. Established officially in 2008 (although operating privately since 2002) the group now has plantation and agricultural projects on four continents, with operational projects at various stages in Thailand, Malaysia, China, Laos, India, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Vietnam, North America and Europe.

Promoting the use of sustainable and certified wood is the best way of preventing deforestation, protecting biodiversity, and combatting poverty in the tropical rainforest regions. For the yachting sector (a major user of teak) which strives for excellence and which is already involved in environmental efforts, this is also a way of ensuring that no wood from illegal logging is used.

Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20150629/8521504254-a
Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20150629/8521504254-b