KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 30 — Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are ready to further strengthen food security diplomacy cooperation between the two countries, said the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries (MAFI) today.
MAFI said the matter was discussed at a bilateral meeting between Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee and UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment Mariam Bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Almheiri, which was held in conjunction with Ronald’s seven-day working visit to Saudi Arabia and the UAE that began on Aug 24.
In addition, various bilateral strategic government-to-government (G2G) efforts were also discussed to further strengthen cooperation in the agricultural sector of both countries that had existed through the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the government of Malaysia and the UAE for Food Security Diplomacy Cooperation since March 10, 2021.
“For the record, the total value of agricultural trade between the two countries rose from RM1.14 billion in 2020 to RM1.51 billion in 2021,” MAFI said in a statement.
According to the ministry, the bilateral meeting between the delegations from MAFI and UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, meanwhile, could strengthen and expand cooperation, especially in research and development, sharing of technology , facilitating trade for agro-food downstream products and activities, encouraging market access and exchanging of training and expertise.
“Apart from that, this working visit also strengthens technical collaboration between Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) and the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) in sustainable agriculture through irrigation and climate change management.
“This collaboration, which began on Feb 21, 2022, provides space for both countries to share technology and experience in improving agricultural products and results,” added the statement.
According to MAFI, in safeguarding the interests of Malaysia’s agricultural sector in the West Asian region, Agricultural Representative Office (PPP) has also been located in Dubai since 2008, whose role is to act as a mediator between the two countries in cooperation and investment in the field of agriculture.
“It is hoped that the close cooperation forged through this bilateral meeting will continue to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the agriculture and food industry sectors between Malaysia and the UAE, thus ensuring food security in both nations,” the statement said.
