SERDANG, Sept 5 — The value of memorandums of understanding (MOUs) signed in conjunction with the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agro-Tourism Exhibition (MAHA) has reached RM9.3 billion, exceeding the initial target of RM8 billion.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the achievement was recorded in line with the overwhelming response from the public, with the number of visitors as of the seventh day reaching 2.77 million, while sales value surged to RM16.3 million.
“We targeted RM8 billion, but as of today we have achieved RM9.3 billion. Visitors up to the seventh day totalled 2.77 million and the number of vehicles was more than 555,000,” he told the media after attending the Agro Quest Reality Programme awards ceremony at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) here yesterday.
He said China remains the main agricultural trading partner through the renewal of existing cooperation and an increase in imports of agri-food products, with MOUs worth RM3.27 billion.
He explained that the signing of the MOUs was an ongoing commitment that would be followed by concrete business agreements to drive exports in the sector, including the export of pineapples and high-tech applications.
The main collaborations included an MOU between the National Farmers’ Organisation (NAFAS), Guizhou Phosphate Chemical (GPC) Group and Jiangsu Chemical Design Institute Co Ltd (CDIJS), involving a value of RM1.5 billion.
“This MOU is not an agreement, it is an ‘understanding’...after the MOU, only then do we proceed to trade, and then proceed to an ‘agreement’. The effectiveness continues directly, for example when they make an MOU today, something like pineapple exports will continue immediately,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mohamad expressed his admiration for the involvement of the younger generation who are making agriculture their career of choice through the application of modern technologies such as AI and the Internet of Things (IoT).
“Earlier we saw young people who were so enthusiastic, successful in their involvement in agriculture and using impressive new technologies. They are fully immersing themselves in careers in the agricultural field,” he said.
Mohamad urged residents around the Klang Valley to take the opportunity to visit MAHA during the final two days of the event, as well as take the opportunity to obtain planting seeds and learn about developments in local food technology.
