SEREMBAN, Nov 13 (Bernama) -- Negeri Sembilan is prepared to welcome any company, including private landowners, interested in managing the non-radioactive rare earth element (NR-REE) industry in the state, said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun.
He said companies applying for the project must be able to implement NR-REE management.
"We have no problem. We welcome anyone who is interested. What is important is that we have to be transparent. We don't want people with no experience to do it. (For) Government land, we have to choose only capable companies," he told reporters after chairing the weekly state executive council meeting at Wisma Negeri here today.
Aminuddin said the state would also give parties interested in managing NR-REE a one- to six-month period to explore an area for the project.
It was reported that two approximately 400-hectare areas in the state have been approved for NR-REE mining, which will start soon.
Meanwhile, Aminuddin said Negeri Sembilan is expected to earn higher revenue this year than the RM520 million target it set in last year's budget.
"The state's revenue has reached 95 per cent so far and is expected to exceed the target by the end of this year," he said.
-- BERNAMA