Teresa Kok – Bernama file photo
KUALA LUMPUR: The government is intensifying marketing efforts to increase palm oil exports and enhance trade ties with China in the face of challenging market conditions, says Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok.
The ministry would sign a collaboration memorandum and initiate free trade discussions with China in order to facilitate further export of Malaysian palm oil products to that country .
“Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s trip to China, scheduled for later this month, will be used as a platform to hold meetings and discussions on cooperation with the Chinese government,” Kok told the Dewan Rakyat today in reply to a question from Dr Azman Ismail (PKR-Kuala Kedah) who asked about the government’s strategy to increase palm oil exports to Europe and China.
The minister’s response was read out by Deputy Primary Industries Minister Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin.
Kok said the government, via the Malaysia Palm Oil Board, would organise various forums and conduct research on the use of palm oil and palm oil-based products in China in order to enhance palm oil exports to the country.
“Other activities to be intensified include working visits, economic and technical missions to the European Union (EU), as well as, participation in various conferences, trade expositions and exhibitions.
“These activities are aimed at interacting with players with vested interest in the vegetable oils and fats industry,” she added.
Meanwhile, Kok said the Malaysia-EU Free Trade Agreement, still under negotiations, would benefit efforts to increase the palm oil trade to Europe.
“There will be alliances in EU with parties involved in the palm industry, including the European Palm Oil Alliance, European Sustainable Palm Oil Advocacy Group and Belgian Sustainable Palm Oil, to encourage the use of palm oil.
“These alliances will help spread a positive image of palm oil in the EU and increase the acceptance and use of the commodity,” she added. – Bernama