MALAYSIA, URUGUAY TO ENHANCE FOOD SECURITY COOPERATION

PUTRAJAYA, June 7 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Uruguay will further strengthen cooperation in food security including strengthening halal, phytosanitary and food security aspects.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) said Uruguay also expressed its desire to make Malaysia a beef trade hub in the region in line with Malaysia's desire to promote the country as a trade gateway to ASEAN countries.

According to KPKM, Malaysia was invited to explore Uruguay's potential as a new source country for importing halal meat and the matter was discussed during a courtesy call by Uruguay Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries, Fernando Mattos on Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu yesterday.

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"During the discussion, Mattos said meat is Uruguay's largest export followed by cellulose, wheat, soybeans and rice. As one of the world's largest meat exporting countries, Uruguay sees Malaysia as an important and potential trading partner for the halal meat market," according to KPKM in statement here today.

KPKM said Uruguay also offered Malaysia the opportunity to expand the network of source countries for imported halal meat.

According to KPKM, the proposal was well-received based on the country's need to diversify import sources to guarantee the country's food supply.

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"A large ruminant livestock industry with factory capacity and processing technology which is competent is one of the advantages for Uruguay which certainly has the potential to become the main exporter of quality beef to Malaysia," according to the statement.

KPKM said Mohamad also requested cooperation from Uruguay to provide information on the import requirements for value-added products from Malaysia to enter the Uruguayan market such as animal-based products, liquid eggs, animal feed and animal vaccines and welcomed technical cooperation in the field of research and development. (R&D) as this cooperation can be improved.

At the end of the meeting, Mohamad invited Mattos to the Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Exhibition (MAHA) 2024 scheduled for Sept 11 to 22 and also invited Uruguay to participate in the bi-annual event.

Mattos who is in Malaysia for a three-day working visit since June 4, also paid a courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Plantation and Commodity Minister Datuk Seri Johari bin Abdul Ghani.

-- BERNAMA