KUALA LUMPUR, July 12 (Bernama) -- THE Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) is confident bilateral ties with Ankara will be further enhanced with the recent visit by our Prime Minister YAB Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to the republic.

I am confident that warmer ties between both countries will boost bilateral trade, especially the export of Malaysia's commodities, such as palm oil. YAB's latest visit has not only enhanced diplomatic ties, it has also resulted in deepening relations between the business communities of both countries and boosted Turkiye’s confidence in Malaysian palm oil.

The signing of several MoUs between both countries on July 7, witnessed by YAB Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri and his Turkiye counterpart, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, had only deepened bilateral ties. It has also added impetus towards Malaysia's efforts to boost its commodities exports to Turkiye following a trade mission I personally led to the country between March 26 and March 30 this year. 

During the visit, I met Turkish Minister of Trade Dr Mehmet Mus on March 27 which among others delved on Malaysia’s intentions to intensify the downstream activities of its palm oil industry. Malaysia has also offered its expertise in natural rubber technology, mainly in seismic rubber bearings which are capable of absorbing earthquake tremors for the construction industry, including bridges and railways which are rapidly growing in Turkiye.

Towards this end, MPIC is also appreciative of Turkiye applying tax exemptions as a result of the Malaysia-Turkiye Free Trade Agreement (MTFTA) signed in 2019, besides facilitating discussions on making Turkiye a hub for Malaysian Agri commodity products to Europe and Central Asia. 

More specifically on the palm oil trade, MPIC had also clarified various issues pertaining to efforts by certain quarters to undermine the image of palm oil and its related products while calling on Turkiye to support Malaysia in the face of prejudice against palm oil products. Additionally, various meetings were held separately with industry players in Ankara to promote Malaysia’s main Agri commodity products like palm oil, rubber, timber, cocoa and pepper. 

During my visit there, I also took the opportunity to speak to numerous captains of industries about the immense benefits of palm oil, while countering false news about the commodity, in line with the "The Global Movement to Champion the Goodness of Palm Oil" campaign. 

Turkey remains an important market for Malaysian Agri-commodities. In 2021, the trade value of Malaysian Agri-commodity products with Turkey was worth RM6.02 billion with an export value of RM5.99 billion. Exports of our Agri-commodity products to Turkey increased by 49.5% from RM4.01 billion in 2020. 

Four major Agri-commodity products exported to Turkey are palm oil-based products (RM4.38 billion), followed by rubber (RM1.29 billion) cocoa (RM304.5 million), and timber (RM8.43 million).

The Ministry is confident the PM’s visit to Turkiye would further strengthen the relationship between two countries built since 1964, thus boosting our country’s commodity exports.

YB DATUK HAJAH ZURAIDA KAMARUDDIN
MINISTER OF PLANTATION INDUSTRIES AND COMMODITIES
11 JULY 2022 

Source: Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: 
Name: Muhammad Adam Bin Abu Bakar
Tel: 019-508 8169
Email: adam@mpic.gov.my 

Name: Annis Hafifah Binti Hashim
Tel: 019-607 1896
Email: annis@mpic@gov.my

--BERNAMA