Malaysian Representative Strengthens Bilateral Cooperation with Pakistani Hilal Meat Industry
Published on: February 5, 2024.
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Malaysian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Mohammad Azhar Mazlan, delivered a guest lecture at the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) highlighting the potential for collaboration between the two countries in the Hilal meat industry. The lecture, titled ‘Diplomatic Reflections: Pakistan-Malaysia Relations in the New Era,’ focused on strengthening bilateral ties and exploring opportunities for cooperation.
During his lecture, Mazlan emphasized Pakistan’s importance as Malaysia’s third-largest trading partner export destination and second-largest import source. He noted the significant increase in palm oil imports from Malaysia since the implementation of the Malaysian Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in 2008. While Pakistan imports 9% of its palm oil from Malaysia, the rest is sourced from Indonesia.
Furthermore, Mazlan highlighted the presence of Pakistani workers in Malaysia, stating that there are currently 49,409 registered Pakistani workers in the country, accounting for 3.31% of the total number of foreign workers in Malaysia. Additionally, there is a significant Pakistani diaspora in Malaysia, with an estimated population of over 100,000.
In terms of future collaboration, the High Commissioner proposed elevating the existing Strategic Partnership to encompass areas such as economics, technology, and defense. He also emphasized the importance of fostering people-to-people cooperation, addressing climate change and renewable energy concerns, and leveraging Pakistan’s potential as an agricultural powerhouse. Additionally, he called for policy reforms to promote inclusive growth and suggested exploring opportunities for collaboration between ASEAN and Pakistan, given the region’s significant economic growth.
Mazlan reaffirmed Malaysia’s stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict, stating that Malaysia would not recognize Israel until a Two-State solution is implemented. He commended Malaysia’s competent leadership and its commitment to sustainable development, expressing hope that Pakistan would overcome political instability and emerge stronger.
In conclusion, the High Commissioner expressed optimism about Malaysia’s economic future and urged Pakistan to promote itself as a safe destination for investment and tourism. He highlighted the surgical and sports industry in Sialkot as a prime example of Pakistan’s competitive edge in the global market.
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