Delegation to strengthen ties with Vietnam

PETALING JAYA: With the market for commodities in Vietnam expected to see significant growth in the next few years, a Malaysian delegation led by Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong visited the country to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the sector.

Mah said the official visit was also to explore opportunities to increase strategic collaboration in technology development, particularly in the palm oil, rubber and pepper sectors.

Between January and July 2017, trade between Malaysia and Vietnam in the commodities and commodity-based products sector saw a 27% increase to RM2.8bil, compared to the same period in 2016.

Exports in the palm oil sector also saw a 27% growth to RM1.3bil, while the rubber sector recorded a 29% rise to RM254mil from the same period a year ago.

The minister’s delegation was joined by representatives from agencies under the ministry including the Malaysian Palm Oil Board, Malaysian Palm Oil Council, Malaysian Rubber Board, Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council and Malaysian Pepper Board.

During the visit, Mah, together with the Malaysian delegation, paid a courtesy call on the country’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nguyen Xuan Cuong.

During the courtesy call, both ministers stated their commitment to increase bilateral cooperation in the development of plantation sector.

“Malaysia, as chair of the International Tripartite Rubber Council (ITRC) for 2017, also extended an invitation to Vietnam to join the council as a full member to strengthen the ITRC’s role and function in leading the global rubber industry,” said Mah in a statement.

To this, Nguyen Xuan Cuong committed that the country would send a delegation to Malaysia to attend the ITRC meeting in Kuala Lumpur next year.

The ITRC currently consists of three countries – Malaysia, Thailand dan Indonesia.