Pakistan among Malaysia’s largest trading partners in agri-commodities, palm oil
Zubair Qureshi Islamabad
Pakistan is one of Malaysia’s largest trading partners in agri-commodities namely, namely palm oil, rubber, timber, pepper, cocoa and kenaf and there exists huge potential between the two countries to further strengthen and diversify trade relations.
These views were expressed by Malaysian Minister for Plantation Industries & Commodities, Datuk Hajah Zuraida Kamaruddin while addressing a roundtable session between the Malaysian government officials and the representatives of the Rawalpindi and Islamabad chambers of commerce and industry on Friday.
Acting High Commissioner of Malaysia Deddy Faisal had organized the event. Datuk Hajah Zuraida Kamaruddin was on a working visit to Pakistan from March 30 to April 1, 2022
The purpose of the visit was to strengthen agricultural commodities trade relation between Malaysia and Pakistan as well promoting Malaysian main agricultural commodities.
The event was attended by President of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) Muhammad Shakeel Munir, Vice President of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (RCCI) Tallat Mehmood Awarn, the Pakistani and the Malaysian business community and investors.
In her remarks, Zuraida Kamaruddin noted with pleasure the trade volume between Malaysia and Pakistan despite the pandemic during the last two years saw an upward growth and “Pakistan and Malaysia 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 a number of joint venture projects particularly in the palm oil industry at Port Qasim, she said. According to the visiting dignitary, Malaysia valued Pakistan’s support and friendship and believed more could be done to increase trade activities between the two countries.
Therefore, she said, the special roundtable session with Islamabad and Rawalpindi Chambers was a relevant avenue to disseminate the latest information about Malaysian commodities among the industry players.
The Malaysian minister urged the chambers to consider doing more business and joint ventures with Malaysia particularly in the development of downstream products such as in oleo-chemical industry, natural rubber seismic bearing, rubberised road, timber doors, floor panels, wooden door, premium chocolate and pepper.
She also invited Chamber members present to participate in the Malaysia International Agri-commodity Expo and Summit (MIACES) on 26-28 July 2022 in Kuala Lumpur.
Prior to the meeting with the Islamabad and Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce, the Malaysian minister met with Adviser to PM on Commerce & Trade Abdul Razak Dawood, Adviser on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Ayub Afridi on two separate occasions to discuss ways to expand Malaysia’s agri-commodity market share in Pakistan, possible collaboration in research and development for agri-commodity sector and possibility of recruiting Pakistani workers to work in Malaysia’s palm oil plantation
Malaysia’s main agri-commodity exports to Pakistan are palm oil (RM2.92 billion), rubber (RM253.90 million) and timber products (RM82.44 million). Total export of Malaysian palm oil and palm oil products to Pakistan valued at RM2.92 billion and 830,833 in tonnage. This figure represents 88.3% of total Malaysia agri commodities products exported to Pakistan.
