KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has received an invitation to explore fresh export avenues for its fishery resources in the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast).

This proposal was discussed during a courtesy visit by Ivory Coast’s Minister of Animal Resources and Fisheries, Sidi Tiemoko Toure, to Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu in Putrajaya yesterday.

‘Toure highlighted the significance of fish as a primary protein source in the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, with an average consumption of 25 kilogrammes per capita annually.

‘He expressed hope for Malaysia to increase its fishery exports to Ivory Coast and welcomed collaboration in expert exchange within the fisheries sector,’ a statement by the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry stated today.

The meeting also addressed potential bilateral cooperation, particularly in fisheries and aquaculture sectors, alongside efforts to improve market access for Malaysian products, including value-added animal products, eggs and animal feed,
to be exported to Ivory Coast.

Mohamad also welcomed technical cooperation in research and development (RandD), and invited Ivory Coast to participate in the Malaysian Agricultural, Horticultural and Agrotourism Exhibition (MAHA) 2024, scheduled for September this year.

Ivory Coast stands as Malaysia’s third-largest trading partner among 54 African countries, with Malaysia’s exports to the country reaching RM527.26 million last year.

Given this, the leaders’ meeting holds significance in exploring avenues to boost bilateral trade, with a focus on increasing Malaysia’s exports of fishery resources, which is poised to elevate Malaysia’s trade value, the statement added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency