Food seasoning and salt producer Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Bhd is in the process of acquiring land in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, to expand its manufacturing operations.
Thailand will phase in a sugar tax over six years in a bid to help drinks manufacturers to lower their sugar content and take advantage of a simultaneous lowering of tax on sugar-free beverages.
The Malaysian government has agreed to form a special committee to study the economic impact on trade and investment with China following the disappearance of Flight MH370 last month.
Analysts have been predicting price rises and a slowing of economic growth in Southeast Asia as the drought that has gripped the region since the start of the year continues to disrupt water supplies, and Indonesian fires rage.
Nestlé Malaysia has broken ground on a new plant on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur that it expects will double its local ready-to-drink production capacity by the time it opens in May next year.
All food products produced by small and medium industries in Malaysia will have to undergo inspections as part of a food safety scheme that begins in 2014.
Cargill has opened a new flavour facility in China, which is expected to enable it to better address regional demand and taste in Asia in a timely fashion.
