Become A Timberpreneur Today, For A Better Tomorrow

Thinking about being a timberpreneur and afforestation? We tell you what you need to know to get started. With great minds thinking alike, there is no differentiation in the marketplace. Let us help by sharing what is it about
timberpreneurship that stands out from the crowd.

There are bound to be things made of wood, like homes and working places. We’ve probably t stopped and wondered about the origin of wood, which is derived from trees that are found in abundance in the forest. With such abundance, we consequently continue chopping down trees to create all the things above and causing not only climate change, but a climate crisis too.

“The recent climate change report tells us, in the words of the UN Secretary General, that this moment is ‘code red
for humanity’. It’s past the time to act and I think we must remember that time is running out for humanity. The planet will survive come what may – the question is, will we?” said Tan Sri Prof Dr Jemilah Mahmood, Professor and executive director of Sunway Centre for Planetary Health.

Huge Business With A Huge Impact

It is a well-known fact that the timber industry is a very lucrative business. According to the World Bank, it is a US$600 billion industry globally. Malaysia is among the world’s biggest exporters for timber, exporting to over 160 countries worldwide, with its products highly regarded in the market owing to its greater supply reliability and superior quality as well as availability of sustainable and certified timber products.

The timber industry has a promising future, and the sector needs to innovate and incorporate the right business practices to ensure that it remains as a viable economic contributor for the country for many years to come.

Let’s Grow Trees Together

This is where M&H Global Plantation comes in. They are an organisation that cultivates fast growing lightweight hardwood timber trees to cater to the ever-growing demand for sustainable cultivated timber. With ESG as the governing lighthouse, M&H Global Plantation, a subsidiary of M&H Sdn Bhd advocates the 3P movement:

Planet – to plant 40 million trees in the next five years from 2022
People – to empower and sustain 3,000 families through employment and education
Prosperity – to enhance profitability among our stakeholders and their future generations

Who Is M&H?

Smart Investor spoke to Hansel Solibun Choy, Chief Executive Officer of M&H to know more about them and their story.

Smart Investor: Can you share a little bit about yourself, your background, and also of your team members?

Hansel Solibun Choy: M&H Sdn Bhd is a private venture company established in 2013. I am one of the founding
partners having 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur in multiple financial and property sectors.

On board we have Dato Seri Liew Ah Onn, who is our chief strategy officer, a well-respected and experienced property developer and agriculture businessman. We also have Dato Ho Kam Phaw, a very experienced lawyer who joined us in 2020 as a legal advisor.

SI: Why did you venture into this business, and what stands you out from the rest?

HSC: Climate change and social issues are some of the biggest threats looming over our current way of life. In this fast-changing world, pivoting business strategies to become sustainable has become a business imperative for all companies.

We know that with change comes challenges; but with change also comes opportunity Our mission is to provide sustainable return of investment for our shareholders and deliver a consistent amount to charitable organisations, namely the Orang Asli community.

We wanted a project that is less dependable on market mood swings, hence we became one of the few companies in Malaysia that focuses on the cultivation of fast-growing timber.

SI: What are the successes and challenges you have faced so far?

HSC: We managed to increase the total acreage under management from 300 acres in 2019 to 900 acres in 2021 and planted close to 200,000 fast-growing timber trees. This is made possible with the support of our shareholders and partners whilst attracting amazing people to our 3P Movement.

Like all businesses opening after the Covid-19, we too face challenges on the rising cost of fertilisers and labour. There was also an acute labour shortage during the first few months of 2020. However, we managed to hire more locals and Orang Asli to work in the plantation.

SI: What are your short-term and long-term goals, and how do you intend to achieve them?

HSC: Our short-term goals are to increase our tree counts by another 200,000 and to acquire another plot of land in 2023. As for our long-term goals, we aim to achieve 100,000 acres of land under management.

We also seek to become a fully-fledged sustainable timber cultivation organisation which will reforest logged off trees and abandon land in Malaysia. With that, business partners are welcome to participate in our projects where we offer consultancy and supply of high-quality seedlings.

Our aim is to become the leader in producing sustainable grown timber products for both local and international markets.

SI: What is your message to the public out there about saving the environment?

HSC: We endeavour to make a difference to our beloved earth, hence in a world where our achievements are concerned, our purpose is to prosper the planet and society.

*Disclaimer: This content is intended to be used and must be used for information and education purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment based on your own personal circumstances. As an investor, you should make your own risk assessment and seek professional advice from the appropriate financial advisor or institution, where necessary.

“There’s a lot to consider at the intersection of business and social work. It’s about earning a lot of money while adding a lot of value to people’s lives and making the world a better place.”
– Hendrith Vanlon Smith, Jr, CEO of Mayflower-Plymouth