Malaysia Agrees to Buy More Pakistani Rice

Malaysia has agreed to work with Pakistan to expand rice exports and strengthen agricultural trade, following a series of high level meetings in Kuala Lumpur between Pakistani officials and senior Malaysian authorities.

Federal Secretary for National Food Security and Research Amer Ali Ahmed, Federal Secretary for Commerce Jawad Paul and Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Malaysia Syed Ahsan Raza Shah held talks with senior officials from Malaysia’s BERNAS, the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

A key meeting with BERNAS Group CEO Dato’ Dr. Sirajuddin bin Suhaimee focused on increasing Pakistani rice exports to Malaysia while meeting BERNAS quality standards and requirements. Officials from the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Department of Plant Protection, Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan and Pakistan High Commission also attended.

The discussions also covered Pakistan’s participation in the Malaysia International Halal Showcase and ways to strengthen market links, expand bilateral trade and support food security in the region.

Pakistani and Malaysian officials also discussed cooperation in halal certification and agricultural supply chains during a meeting with JAKIM Director General Dato’ Dr. Sirajuddin bin Suhaimee. The two sides reviewed progress under the Memorandum of Understanding between JAKIM and the Pakistan Halal Authority, signed in October, and discussed ways to strengthen technical and institutional cooperation.

The officials agreed on the importance of improving certification systems, sharing expertise and making it easier for Pakistani halal certified agricultural and food products to access the Malaysian market.

In another meeting with Datuk Seri Isham bin Ishak, Secretary General of Malaysia’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the two sides discussed cooperation across rice, meat, poultry, fisheries and aquaculture technologies, animal vaccines, biosecurity and halal gelatin.

Pakistan and Malaysia also agreed to establish a formal mechanism for continued engagement on agricultural cooperation and trade. The process will begin with a joint virtual meeting in November this year.

The meetings are part of efforts by both countries to expand agricultural trade, improve technical cooperation and strengthen market access for safe, quality and halal certified food products.