KUALA LUMPUR, May 3 (Bernama) -- Minister of Primary Industries, YB Teresa Kok will lead a palm oil economic and promotion mission to London, United Kingdom; Brussels, Belgium; Berlin, Germany; and Rome, Italy from 3 to 13 May 2019. Her delegation will comprise of officials from the Ministry, Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) and Malaysian Palm Oil Certification Council (MPOCC).
 
During the Mission, YB Minister will be engaging with officials and important stakeholders of influential Member States of the European Union (EU) who are also important palm oil trading partners in the EU. This mission is part of Malaysia’s ongoing efforts to promote palm oil and palm-based products to key markets as well as to engage and address anti-palm oil sentiments in the region. The mission shall also be a platform for Malaysia to strengthen bilateral trade relations with these important markets and a medium to understand their perspective on domestic implementation of EU Renewable Energy Directive II (EU RED II) and the palm oil sector as a whole.
 
Apart from that, Malaysia will also provide its stance with regard to the EU RED and actions undertaken on enhancing the sustainability of the palm oil industry. This mission will be a medium to discuss and unravel any concern from the Member States and to engage in means of effective collaboration between Malaysia and these countries in ensuring the sustainability of Malaysia’s palm oil industry.
 
In London, United Kingdom, YB Teresa Kok will be meeting with industry players as well as representatives from NGOs to discuss current issues and developments with regard to the palm oil sector and possible collaboration among these parties to further improve the sustainability of the industry. YB Minister will also hold a Love MY Palm Oil Programme with Malaysian Diaspora to promote Malaysian Palm Oil within the international community as well as encourage Malaysians to become the spokesperson to counter the ongoing anti-palm oil campaigns in Europe. 
 
In Belgium, YB Minister will convene bilateral meetings with the representatives from the Council of the European Union. Meanwhile in Germany and Italy, YB Minister is expected to meet government officials and policy makers to discuss on the issues related to palm oil in the respective countries as well as to unfold the reality of palm oil industry in Malaysia.
 
The Minister will also visit the Tun Abdul Razak Research Centre, a UK-based research and promotion centre of the Malaysian Rubber Board, to get a first-hand information and its effectiveness to enhance the competitiveness and viability of the Malaysian rubber industries in the global environment through focused R&D, effective transfer of technology and quality support services
 
Over the years, trade relations between Malaysia and the EU, particularly in palm oil and palm-based products although thriving, had significantly decreased by 10.34% (RM1.14 billion) from RM11.03 billion in 2017 to RM9.89 billion in 2018.  
 
Ministry of Primary Industries
Malaysia
3 May 2019
 
Source: Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Kartina binti Hamzah
Tel: 03-88878236
Fax: 03-88878205
Email : kartina@mpi.gov.my
 
--BERNAMA