Weaker ringgit helps boost exports of food products to far east

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Nazipah shows a local product to participants of a workshop on the export market facilitation and exploration in the Far East for products from Sabah and Sarawak yesterday. — Bernama photo

Nazipah shows a local product to participants of a workshop on the export market facilitation and exploration in the Far East for products from Sabah and Sarawak yesterday. — Bernama photo

KOTA KINABALU: The weakening ringgit helps open doors for more exports of food products to countries such as South Korea and Japan, the Malaysian Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) said.

Its senior director for the Export Market Promotion Division, Datuk Nazipah Jamaludin said as food products in these countries were expensive, Malaysian entrepreneurs would benefit from the exchange rate.

“Hence, we have taken several steps to improve the export opportunities for entrepreneurs and farmers, especially from Sabah and Sarawak who have bigger potentials than those in Peninsular Malaysia.

“This is because there are many products in the two states that could be developed as they are well received abroad,” she told reporters after attending a workshop on the export market facilitation and exploration in the Far East for products from Sabah and Sarawak yesterday.

On the workshop, Nazipah said it was aimed at improving export opportunities by strengthening cooperation with relevant agencies in Sabah and Sarawak.

“The objective of this workshop is to give exposure to participants from FAMA and related agencies on potential products from Sabah and Sarawak that could be commercialised for the export market, especially to Far East countries, especially China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

“The participants could also learn about the procedures and processes of exporting fresh produce to these countries, as well as acquire knowledge that could be used to help target groups explore the market further,” he said.

Nazipah cited potential products from Sabah as pomelo, banana, avocado, pineapple, Amplang crackers, and kuih cincin, while that of Sarawak as tebaloi, white pepper powder, while pepper, sesak unjur, layer cake, and rambutan.

The forum was attended by 60 FAMA employees from Sabah and Sarawak, as well as participants from the Agro-Based Industry Export Market Division. — Bernama