JAKARTA, Aug 24 Asia Pulse - Malaysian investors are studying cooperationwith state-owned plantation company PTPN XIV to build oil palm plantationsin Sulawesi.

A team of businessmen from Malaysia have visited and surveyed plantationareas of PTPN XIV and they indicated strong interest, President of PTPNXIV Hasan Sayuti said in the South Sulawesi capital of Makassar on Monday.

Hasan said a cooperation agreement is expected to be signed soon.

He said the cooperation with the Malaysian partners will cover a totalarea of 100,000 hectares in three provinces - North Sulawesi, CentralSulawesi and South Sulawesi - including 30,000 hectares for plasma estatesto be grown by local farmers under a marketing agreement.

He said PTPN XIV could not finance development of the plantations alone,therefore, it wants to involve other investors.

(ANTARA)