AS the fate of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan hangs in the balance after Opposition leaders tabled a no-confidence vote against him on account of skyrocketing inflation and ballooning foreign debt, Malaysian Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin was blazing her trail across the South Asian nation.
The Ampang MP was on a three-day visit to Islamabad from March 30 to April 1 to strengthen agricultural commodities trade relations – notably primary agricultural commodities consisting of palm oil, rubber, timber, pepper, cocoa and kenaf – between Malaysia and Pakistan.
According to Zuraida, Pakistan has been specially identified as one of the crucial countries to visit as both Malaysia and Pakistan share common values and culture, thus offering much room for expansion, especially in trade.
“Pakistan is also one of Malaysia’s largest trading partners in agri-commodities, and Malaysia has several joint-venture projects, particularly in the palm oil industry at Port Qasim,” she pointed out in a media statement on her working visit.
“Malaysia values Pakistan’s support and friendship and believes more should be done to increase trade activities between the two countries.”
In fact, Zuraida opined that her ministry’s special roundtable session with the Islamabad and Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce as a relevant avenue to disseminate the latest information about Malaysian commodities among the industry players.
This is where Zuraida has enticed members of the chamber to consider undertake more business and joint ventures with Malaysia, particularly in developing downstream products such as the oleo-chemical industry, natural rubber seismic bearing, rubberised road, timber doors, floor panels, and wooden doors, premium chocolate and pepper.
The minister also invited chamber members who were present to participate in the Malaysia International Agri-commodity Expo and Summit (MIACES) which be held from July 26-28 in Kuala Lumpur.
Before the meeting with the Islamabad and Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce, Zuraida had also met with Abdul Razak Dawood who is the commerce and investment adviser to the Pakistan Prime Minister (PM) and Ayub Afridi who is the adviser of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development to the Pakistan PM.
Both meetings were intended to explore ways to expand Malaysia’s agri-commodity market share in Pakistan, potential collaboration in research and development for the agri-commodity sector and the possibility of recruiting Pakistani workers to work in Malaysian’s palm oil plantation.
Other than discussions with various Pakistan’s ministers, Zuraida also met with the Pakistan-Malaysia Business Council in Karachi and witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the All-Pakistan Timber Traders Association and Malaysia Timber Council (MTC).
Pakistan has been an essential and strategic trade partner for Malaysian agri-commodity products with a total export value of RM3.31 bil in 2021.
Malaysia’s main agri-commodity exports to Pakistan are palm oil (RM2.92 bil), rubber (RM253.90 mil) and timber products (RM82.44 mil). The total export of Malaysian palm oil and palm oil products to Pakistan is RM2.92 bil and 830,833 tonnage.
This figure represents 88.3% of the entire Malaysian agri-commodities products exported to Pakistan. – April 7, 2022
