MEDIA STATEMENT
MALAYSIA SUSTAINABLE AGRICOMMODITY WEEK
(NON FOOD AGRICOMMODITIES) AT DUBAI 2020 EXPO
1. The agricommodity sector is one of Malaysia's main economic drivers, contributing significantly to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP), export earnings, jobs, and business opportunities, including elevating the standard of living of our smallholders. For many years, the agricommodity sector has been Malaysia's vital instrument in reducing poverty in Malaysia.
2. Understanding the global demand for sustainable agri-commodities, the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC), as the Platinum Premier Partner for Malaysia Pavillion in Dubai 2020 Expo, is proud to showcase Malaysia's journey, efforts, and initiatives towards sustainable agricommodity sector.
3. The theme of the exhibition and lineup of events focus on the efforts undertaken by Malaysia towards advancing the Agricommodity sector in a sustainable manner while promoting its goodness and versatile applications of the agricommodities. The advancement and development of the agricommodity industry support and embed the objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in the plantation policies and management.
4. For Week 17, MPIC will host the Sustainable Agricommodity Week (Non-Food Agricommodities), running from 23rd January to 29th January 2022, as part of the 26 weekly thematic trade and business programmes organised by Malaysia Pavilion Expo 2020 Dubai. The event will be officiated by The Honourable Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Malaysia, Datuk Hajah Zuraida Kamaruddin. Malaysia's participation in Expo 2020 Dubai is spearheaded by the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI) with Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation as implementing agency. The week will focus on non-food agricultural commodities of Malaysia such as rubber, timber, and kenaf.
5. Among the week's highlights is the Malaysian Rubber Products Virtual Showcase (MaRViS). This online platform facilitates online business engagements between international buyers and Malaysian rubber product manufacturers by Malaysia Rubber Council, TimbeReality, a dedicated VR platform that displays Malaysian-made timber and furniture products by Malaysia Timber Council, The Rubber Forum 2022 organised by Malaysia Rubber Board and Malaysia Wood Expo 2022 by the Malaysia Timber Board. The Honourable Minister will also witness the signing of four Memorandum of Understandings, three from the timber subsector and one from the Kenaf subsector.
6. MPIC and its agencies have also lined up exciting activities for visitors to the Malaysia Pavilion, such as interactive latex painting arts, agarwood product demonstrations, rubber clay modeling, kenaf demonstration, and special talks on Malaysia kenaf, timber, and Malaysian sustainable timber certification.
7. Despite the rough economic climate worldwide, Malaysia's agricommodity trade continues to perform reasonably well. From January to November 2021, the agricommodity sector has contributed total export revenue of RM189.5 billion to the Malaysian economy. This value has exceeded Malaysia's total export revenue for 2020 of RM152 billion. Therefore, MPIC will continue to raise more awareness, expand its network and global alliances, and share the importance of our sustainable agricommodities efforts through Expo 2020 Dubai.
MINISTRY OF PLANTATION INDUSTRIES AND COMMODITIES
24 JANUARY 2022