KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 14 (Bernama) -- H.E Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong, Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities has convened bilateral discussions with H.E Mr Suresh Prabhu, Minister of Commerce and Industry, India, H.E. Mr. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the Minister of State for Agriculture, India and H.E. Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, India on 13 September 2017 in New Delhi, India. 

During the bilateral discussions,  Datuk Seri Mah extended gratitude to the Indian Government for their continous support in terms of bilateral trade especially in imports of palm oil and palm oil products. India is an important trading partner for Malaysia. 

Apart from that, Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong also took the opportunity to promote the consumption and uptake of Malaysian palm oil during the festive month of Diwali, which every year will create a surge in demand on edible oils and fats. The Diwali Festival this year falls on 18 October. Datuk Seri Mah has assured the Indian counterparts that the supply of Malaysian palm oil is on track and will continue unabated despite these developments.

In 2016, exports of Malaysian products into India accounted for RM 32.01 billion, making India the fifth largest trading partner for Malaysia. India is also the major export destination for Malaysian palm oil where in 2016, Malaysia’s exports of palm oil and palm based products to India accounted for RM8.32 billion. For January to June 2017, Malaysia has exported RM3.92 billion worth of palm oil and palm based products to India.

During the bilateral discussion with H.E Mr Suresh Prabhu, Minister of Commerce and Industry, India, Datuk Seri Mah has expressed his concern on the recent changes in the duty structures of imported edible oils announced by the Government of India and the decrease of export volume of Malaysian palm oil into India.  

India has imported 2.82 million tonnes of Malaysian palm oil in 2016, a decrease of 23% from 3.69 million tonnes in 2015. For the period January to June 2017, India has imported 1.03 million tonnes of Malaysian palm oil, a decrease of 29.5% from 1.46 million tonnes during the same period last year. 

In this regard, Datuk Seri Mah stressed on the importance for both countries to work closely to invigorate new trade and business opportunities in the palm oil sector covering both the food and non-food sector. 

Due to the rising income and expanding urbanization in India, consumption of oils and fats accounts for more than 23 million tonnes or 11% of the total consumed volume globally. This makes India the largest importer of oils and fats, accounting for 18% of the total world’s import of all oils and fats. As such, both Datuk Seri Mah and H.E. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the Minister of State for Agriculture, India agreed to work closely to improve trade in agricultural products including palm oil and palm oil products.  

Discussion with H.E. Mr. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also revolved around certified sustainable palm oil noting that India is also working towards a Framework on Sustainability for Palm Oil. Datuk Seri Mah informed that Malaysia has established the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) scheme which will be made mandatory by 2019 for players in the industry. This will ensure that the smallholders can also participate in a certification scheme and find new export markets for their oil in future. Malaysia look forward to working with India to ensure MSPO is recognised by the Government of India so that India can also contribute towards sourcing and promoting sustainable palm oil from Malaysia.

In a separate discussion with Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, India, both Ministers agreed that there is potential for strengthening collaboration in sports and youth exchange programs between both countries, given the great synergy between Malaysia and India, and their respective strength in the area of sports. 

Apart from the bilateral discussions held, Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong was also invited to deliver a keynote address at the Globoil India Conference 2017 on 14 September 2017 in Mumbai, India. Globoil India, established in 1997, has emerged as one of the Premier International Conferences and Exhibition on Vegetable Oils, Feed Ingredients, Oilseeds and Oleochemicals, providing a strong avenue for over 1750 global industry players to gather and discuss matters of common interest.

Following the official visit in India, Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong will head for Bangkok on 15 September to attend the Ministerial Meeting of International Tripartite Rubber Council (ITRC), joined by Thailand and Indonesia. Main agenda for this meeting includes stabilizing the international rubber price, in order to benefit the rubber industry players worldwide, including more than 450,000 rubber smallholders in Malaysia.  

Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities
Malaysia

SOURCE : Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: 
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Tel: 03-88878236 
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Email: kartina@mpic.gov.my  

--BERNAMA