JOHOR BAHRU: The Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) together with the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) are in the final phases of submitting the Landscape Architect Profession Bill.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican said the bill would be tabled as a framework to further develop the professionalism of landscape architects in the country.

"This is important to enable the landscape architect profession to be developed more systematically as a career like any other profession.

"Developing landscapes requires knowledge, soul, experience that are built over the period to make it beautiful, meaningful and captivating for those who see it," he said in his speech when launching the National Landscape Day 2022 at Taman Bandar Ekoflora here today.

He added that the ministry is working closely with various agencies and ministries, including the Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry and the Works Ministry, and is looking at several models to develop the landscape and floriculture industry as a high-value industry in the country.

"Looking at the evolution of 25 years of landscape development in the country, it is time to view this landscape and floriculture in the framework of a new industry that can be a new growth area for the country.

"This is indeed a huge untapped industry capable of creating business opportunities, jobs, and academic studies," he explained.

Based on the high global market demand that has increased annually by six per cent, the landscape industry is projected to contribute up to RM509 million to the country's economy, Reezal Merican said.

Malaysia, he said, also had great growth potential as a producer of flower seeds in the global market, specifically for tropical climate countries.

-- BERNAMA