‘Rise in rubber and rubberbased exports proof of sector’s continuing growth’

SHAH ALAM: The rise in the value of exports of rubber and rubber-based products of RM5.3 billion or 38.5 per cent for the first seven months of the year is proof of the sector’s continued growth in the future.

Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong also said RM19.1 billion in export value of rubber and rubber- based products was recorded for the seven months compared to RM13.8 billion for the corresponding period of 2016.

He said public perception that the rubber industry was not important needs to be changed as the commodity is now capable of generating high value products for various sectors, including building engineering or bridges.

“Without us realising it, Malaysia has the among best technology and expertise in the rubber industry in the world, with our products being the choice of of other countries due to its high quality.

“As such, the government strongly encourages industry players to cooperate with universities to continue with research and develop more innovations to further enhance the country’s rubber industry,” he told reporters here yesterday.

Mah added that the increase in total natural rubber exports of 682,131 metric tonnes for the first seven months of 2017 compared to 568,279 metric tonnes for the same period of last year, also showed that the sector was not stagnant, but rather, improving and receiving the attention of the world due to its importance in a particular area.

Earlier, he witnessed the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding ( MoU) between Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) and Doshin Rubber Products ( M) Sdn Bhd. — Bernama