Kenaf has been identified as a new commodity to be developed for industrial purpose and one of its potential uses is in the pulp and paper making. The Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities, through MTIB, has pledged RM3 million to undertake the first phase of the feasibility study for utilising Kenaf fibre as material for pulp and paper making.

This feasibility study will be a collaborative effort between MTIB, FRIM, Eco Pulp and Paper Sdn Bhd and Universiti Putra Malaysia. They will work closely in terms of R&D, economic and market research to produce pulp and paper using kenaf fibre. The scope of research in the first phase encompasses the aspect of chipping technology, physical structure and Kenaf fibre morphology, pulping and bleaching system as well as the formulation of paper from Kenaf.

To reinforce this partnership MTIB, the four parties signed an MoU at a signing of agreement ceremony on the commercialisation of R & D findings on 7 July 2007 in conjunction with MICCOS 2007 in PWTC. The ceremony was witnessed by the Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities. Other agreements sealed at the event were concerning Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) and RRIM-Consult Corporation (RRIMCORP) and their respective signatory partners. The launching of the Cocoa Pod Breaker was also conducted during the ceremony.