The bilateral meeting between YB Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee, Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry together with the delegation with PYT Mariam Bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, United Arab Emirates (UAE) further strengthened the food security diplomacy cooperation agenda between the two countries.
Various government-to-government (G2G) bilateral strategic efforts were also discussed in detail to further strengthen cooperation in the two countries sectors in the field of agriculture that has existed through the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Governments of Malaysia and the UAE for Food Security Diplomatic Cooperation which has been established since March 10, 2021.
For the record, the total value of agricultural trade between the two countries has increased from RM1.14 billion in 2020 to RM1.51 billion in 2021.
The bilateral meeting between the delegation of MAFI and the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment immediately after the bilateral meeting to Saudi Arabia can strengthen and expand cooperation in the field of agriculture between Malaysia and the UAE, especially through cooperation in research and development, technology sharing, trade facilitation for products and agro-food downstream activities, promotion of market access and exchange of training and expertise.
In addition, this work visit also strengthened technical cooperation between the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) and the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) in sustainable agriculture through irrigation and climate change management. This collaboration, which started on 21 February 2022, provides space for both countries to share technology and experience in improving agricultural products and results.
In safeguarding the interests of Malaysia’s agricultural sector in the West Asian region, the Agricultural Representative Office (PPP) has also been located in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates since 2008. Among the roles of this PPP is as an intermediary between the two countries in cooperation and investment in agriculture.
It is hoped that the close cooperation established through this bilateral meeting will continue to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the agriculture and food industry sectors between Malaysia and the UAE as well as guarantee food security in both countries.
