May 7, 2024

 

Malaysia's agriculture ministry sees potential for more Japanese companies to enter country's halal market

 

 

Malaysia and Japan have recently discussed bilateral trade cooperation, the agricultural sector and Malaysia's role as a halal hub that can be beneficial to Japan, said Malaysia's Agriculture and Food Security Ministry.

 

The ministry said that these topics were communicated between Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup and Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Mitsuo Takahashi when Takahashi paid a courtesy call to Arthur at his office here on May 3.

 

"Arthur welcomed the technical collaboration in the field of research and hoped that the exchange of technology could be streamlined through the existing bilateral cooperation," the minsitry added in a statement. It said the meeting, which lasted almost an hour, also discussed the recently launched Japan Food Export Platform in Malaysia.

 

"Malaysia is the first Muslim-majority country to be chosen as the location for the Japan Food Export Platform," the ministry said. "It is hoped that the move will provide opportunities for more Japanese companies to penetrate the halal market and obtain halal recognition."

 

Kurup stated that his ministry was ready to support the effort and sought Japan's support and assistance to improve the quality of products by local farmers through capacity sharing and training.

 

He also spoke about Malaysia's plans to host the second meeting of senior officers for the Asean-Japan Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry (AJMAF) on August 7 and the 45th Special Senior Officials Meeting of the Asean Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (SOM-AMAF) on August 6–8.

 

According to the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry the second meeting would discuss the latest developments in collaboration in the Asean-Japan Midori Cooperation Plan, which was agreed upon at the first AJMAF Meeting in 2023.

 

Arthur invited Takahashi to participate in the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture & Agrotourism Show (MAHA) 2024, which will be held on September 11-22.

 

"Japan, meanwhile, invited Malaysia to participate in the International Horticultural Expo Yokohama, which will be held in the Kanagawa Prefecture (Japan) from March 19 to September 16, 2027," said the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry.

 

– Bernama