NEW ACADEMY…Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak signing theplaque at the opening ceremony of the Felda Training Academy (ALAF) atFelda Bukit Goh.

KUANTAN, Aug 13 (Bernama) -- Felda should not be contented with itssuccess in managing land development schemes but should strive to be aglobal player in future, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razaksaid Friday.

He said many heads of government who attended last month's LangkawiInternational Dialogue (LID) showed keen interest in land schemesdeveloped by Felda.

Felda, which had become the country's biggest "landowner", should look outfor opportunities to implement the land development concept in foreigncountries to transform Felda into a global player.

"Turn Felda into a global player. We want Felda to be well-known in theinternational scene," he said when opening the RM15.5 million FeldaTraining Academy at Felda Bukit Goh, here.

Najib urged Felda to pursue its main objective of developing the settlercommunity to greater heights.

"There are 105,000 settler families nationwide. As such, Felda's mainobjective is to give priority for the well-being of the families," hesaid.

Najib urged Felda to further improve education, sports and socialfacilities for the settlers' children to keep up with the mainstream ofdevelopment.

The academy is built on a 5.07 hectare area at the site of the Bukit Gohpalm oil mill closed in 1995.

Construction work started in December 2002 and was completed last month.

Training programmes are expected to start in the fourth week of thismonth.

-- BERNAMA