PRESS STATEMENT
SPECIAL ROUNDTABLE SESSION WITH RAWALPINDI AND
ISLAMABAD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY TO
STRENGTHEN MALAYSIAN COMMODITIES PRODUCTS EXPORT

1. The Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Datuk Hajah Zuraida Kamaruddin, was on a working visit to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan from30th March 2022 to 1st April 2022 to strengthen agricultural commodities trade relations between Malaysia and Pakistan. The Malaysian delegation also promoted the country’s primary agricultural commodities, namely palm oil, rubber, timber, pepper, cocoa, and kenaf.

2. Pakistan has been specially identified as one of the crucial countries to visit. Both countries 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. Malaysia values Pakistan’s support and friendship and believes more should be done to increase trade activities between the two countries.

3. The Ministry views this special roundtable session with Islamabad and the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce as a relevant avenue to disseminate the latest information about Malaysian commodities among the industry players. The Minister enticed the Chamber members to consider doing more business and joint ventures with Malaysia, particularly in developing downstream
products such as the oleo-chemical industry, natural rubber seismic bearing, rubberized road, timber doors, floor panels, and wooden doors, premium chocolate, and pepper. The Minister also invited Chamber members present to participate in the Malaysia International Agricommodity Expo and Summit (MIACES) held on 26th -28th July 2022 in Kuala Lumpur.

4. Before 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 Honourable 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 agricommodity sector and the possibility of recruiting Pakistan workers to work in Malaysian’s palm oil plantation.

5. 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.

6. Pakistan has been an essential and strategic trade partner for Malaysian agricommodity products, with a total export value of RM3.31 billion in 2021. Malaysia's main agri-commodity exports to Pakistan are palm oil (RM2.92 billion), rubber (RM253.90 million), and timber products (RM82.44 million). The total export of Malaysian palm oil and palm oil products to Pakistan is
RM2.92 billion and 830,833 tonnage. This figure represents 88.3% of entire Malaysian agricommodities products exported to Pakistan.

YB DATUK HAJAH ZURAIDA KAMARUDDIN
MINISTER OF PLANTATION INDUSTRIES AND COMMODITIES
7 APRIL 2022