KUALA LUMPUR – The Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry is confident that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s recent visit to Turkiye will further enhance bilateral ties with Ankara, said its minister Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin today.
“I am confident that warmer ties between both countries will boost bilateral trade, especially in the export of Malaysia’s commodities, such as palm oil,” Zuraida said.
Her visit, which also witnessed the signing of several memoranda of understanding between both countries, added further impetus to Malaysia’s efforts to boost its commodities exports to Turkiye, Zuraida said, adding that she led a trade mission to Turkiye in late March this year.
Zuraida said she met Turkish Trade Minister Mehmet Mus on March 27 and delved into Malaysia’s intentions to intensify palm oil industry downstream activities.
Malaysia also offered its expertise in natural rubber technology, mainly in earthquake tremor-absorbing seismic rubber bearings for the construction industry, as well as bridges and railways in Turkiye, Zuraida said.
During that trip in March, she also called on Turkiye to support Malaysia’s palm oil products, she said.
There were also discussions to make Turkiye a hub for Malaysian agricultural commodities to enter Europe and Central Asia, Zuraida said.
Turkey is an important market for Malaysia’s agri-commodities. The trade value of Malaysia's agri-commodities with Turkiye amounted to RM6.02 billion in 2021, with an export value of RM5.99 billion versus RM4.01 billion in 2020.
The four agri-commodities exported to the republic are palm oil-based products (RM4.38 billion), followed by rubber (RM1.29 billion), cocoa (RM304.5 million), and timber (RM8.43 million) – Bernama, July 11, 2022
