Scene at the talks (Photo: baocongthuong.com.vn)Hanoi (VNA) – Ministerof Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong had talks withMalaysia’s Minister of Plantation, Industries and Commodities Datuk Seri MahSiew Keong in Hanoi on October 4 on how to tap the bilateral cooperationpotential in promoting farm produce.
Minister Cuong highlighted the important role ofagriculture in both countries’ economy and job generation for farmers.
At present, agriculture contributes 11 percentto the gross domestic product (GDP) of Malaysia, and creates jobs for 16percent of the workforce.
Meanwhile, the sectoraccounts for 18 percent of Vietnam’s GDP and 70 percent of Vietnamesepopulation are living in rural areas.
The Vietnamese minister proposed that the twosides work together to enhance the value of products that they both produce.
Minister Datuk Seri MahSiew Keong said his country has strength in exporting palm oil, rubber, pepperand deep processing products.
Malaysia is importing rubber from Vietnam toproduce medical gloves, he said, adding that many Malaysian rubber and pepperbusinesses are eyeing the Vietnamese market.
He invited Vietnam to attend the upcomingInternational Rubber Tripartite Conference in Kuala Lumpur.
Regarding pepper products, the minister said Vietnamnow produces five times as much pepper than Malaysia, recalling that manydelegations of Vietnam visited Malaysia 10 years ago to study pepper productionfarms.
Vietnam is the biggest pepper manufacturer inthe world while Malaysia is leading in processed pepper products, Datuk said,adding that Malaysian businesses are ready to come to Vietnam to cooperate inprocessing pepper products.
Cuong said he hope the agricultural trade betweenVietnam and Malaysia will increase by one billion USD by 2020, contributing torealising the goal of 15 billion USD in bilateral trade value in 2020.-VNA
VNA
