KUALA LUMPUR: Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong, will lead the Economic and Technical Missions on Palm Oil, Timber and Rubber Products to Iran and India from Feb 5-9, 2017.
In a statement yesterday, the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities said, the delegation would comprise representatives from the ministry, Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), Malaysian Palm Oil Council, Malaysian Rubber Board, Malaysian Timber Council and the private sector.
“The missions aim to promote and strengthen exports of palm oil, timber and rubber products to Iran and India and strengthen business linkages between the private sectors of both countries with Malaysia,” it said.
The ministry said Mah would officiate the opening of MPOB’s regional office as well as Palm Oil Trade Fair and Seminar (POTS Iran 2017) in Teheran, Iran and Palm Oil Networking Seminar in Mumbai, India.
“It will hold bilateral discussions with the ministers responsible for trade and agriculture and health in Iran during the visit from Feb 5-7,” it said.
The ministry said the meetings would focus on, among others, issues related to the safety and nutritional benefits of palm oil and areas of cooperation to strengthen bilateral trade.
Meanwhile, during the visit to India on Feb 8, Mah would officiate the Palm Oil Networking Seminar and convene a Roundtable discussion with the Solvent Extractor’s Association of India.
“These meetings will focus on areas to strengthen palm oil trade,” it said.
For the period of January-November, 2016, total trade with Iran was valued at RM2.59 billion.
Total exports were valued at RM1.97 billion and out of these, commodity products contributed RM1.55 billion (78.7 per cent total exports).
The major commodity products exported for the same period were palm oil products, which were valued at RM1.21 billion, timber products (RM33.76 million) and rubber products (RM268.94 million). — Bernama