Bangkok: Thailand and Malaysia are ramping up efforts to enhance seafood trade by signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to bolster agricultural cooperation. The two nations have outlined a plan to assess their fisheries systems by July, with the goal of advancing technical negotiations to increase Thai shrimp exports to Malaysia and Malaysian sea bass exports to Thailand, while also opening new markets for livestock products.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Suriya Jungrungreangkit, Thailand's Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, announced that during an official visit to Malaysia, he, alongside Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs Anutin Charnvirakul, engaged in discussions with Dato' Seri Mohamad Sabu, Malaysia's Minister of Agriculture and Food Security. These talks aimed to address existing challenges in the agricultural trade between the two countries, culminating in the signing of an MOU on Agricultural Cooperation.
Mr. Suriya emphasized that both nations are actively pursuing the progress of technical discussions conducted by relevant agencies to expedite trade issues and address sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures under review. The fisheries sector, in particular, will see both sides working towards resuming normal shrimp exports to Malaysia and boosting Malaysian sea bass exports to Thailand, with technical teams set to meet regularly to ensure swift progress.
In the livestock sector, ongoing dialogues aim to create additional markets for livestock products. Technical agencies from both countries will maintain continuous oversight to address various considerations in this area.
Mr. Suriya highlighted that the MOU on agricultural cooperation will establish a framework for collaboration between the agricultural agencies of both countries, fostering academic cooperation and the exchange of knowledge, technology, and innovation. This agreement will also serve as a platform to tackle trade issues and SPS measures concerning agricultural products, striving for concrete and mutually beneficial outcomes for Thailand and Malaysia.