Special roundtable session with Rawalpindi And Islamabad Chamber Of
Commerce & Industry
Spokesman Report
ISLAMABAD: The Malaysian Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Datuk Hajah Zuraida Kamaruddin is on visit to Pakistan from 30th March 2022 to 1st April 2022. The purpose of the visit is to strengthen agricultural commodities trade relation between Malaysia and Pakistan as well promoting Malaysian main agricultural commodities namely palm oil, rubber, timber, pepper, cocoa and kenaf.
Pakistan have been specially identified by the Minister as an important country to visit as both two countries share common values and culture thus offer much room for expansion, especially in trade. Pakistan is also one of Malaysia’s largest trading partners in agri-commodities and Malaysia has number of joint-venture projects particularly in palm oil industry at Port Qasim.
Malaysia values Pakistan’s support and friendship and believe more should be done to increase trade activities between the two countries. Therefore, the Minister views this special roundtable session with Islamabad and Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce, as a relevant avenue to disseminate the latest information about Malaysian commodities among the industry players.
The Minister urged the Chamber members to consider doing more business and joint venture 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. The Minister also invited Chamber members present to participate in the Malaysia International Agricommodity Expo and Summit (MIACES) on 26th -28th July 2022 in Kuala Lumpur.
Prior to the meeting with the Islamabad and Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce, the Minister met with the Honourable Abdul Razak Dawood, Adviser of Commerce and Investment to the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the Ayub Afridi, Adviser of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, 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 Pakistan workers to work in Malaysian’s palm oil plantation Other than discussions with Pakistan’s ministers, Datuk Hajah Zuraida Kamaruddin also met with Pakistan-Malaysia Business Council in Karachi and witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between All Pakistan Timber Traders Association and Malaysia Timber council Pakistan has been an important and strategic trade partner for Malaysian agri commodity products, with a total export value of RM3.31 billion in 2021. Malaysia’s main agri-commodity exports to Pakistan are palm oil (RM2.92billion), rubber (RM253.90 million) and timber products (RM82.44 million).