26 February 2007
The Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs, Ms Lulu Xingwana met with her
counterpart from Malaysia, Minister Dato H J Muhyiddin Bin Mohd Yassin and his
delegation on Friday, 23 February 2007 and agreed on broad areas of
co-operation in agriculture trade, export of goat meat and goat products, diary
products and disease control in citrus and guava fruit.
Discussions also centred on co-operation between the two countries'
agriculture research institutes to engage in the sharing of research
information in livestock breeding, animal and plant diseases, biofuels,
aquaculture, agro-processing and biosciences.
President Thabo Mbeki received the Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi in 2005, and these latest developments will lead to further
strengthening of co-operation agreements. It will also harmonise diplomatic
protocols that will allow exchange of valuable scientific and trade information
between the two countries through exchanging of Memoranda of Understanding.
In addition, the strict adherence to halaal requirements in some of the
abattoirs, also allowed for export of ostrich and goat meat to Malaysia. South
Africa will stand to gain in the biofuel strategy as Malaysia is at an advanced
stage of biofuel production. The agreement will bring opportunities and
benefits to the farming communities of both countries, Minister Lulu Xingwane
had stressed.
For further information, contact:
Priscilla Tsotso Sehoole
Chief of Communications
Tel: (012) 319 7317
Fax: (012) 319 7858
Cell: 083 452 5743
E-mail: CDCoC@nda.agric.za
Issued by: Department of Agriculture
23 February 2007
