Malaysia is promoting sustainably-produced palm oil in Japan following the approval of Malaysian timber usage for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“We’re engaging with the Tokyo Organising Committee for Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games to include Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) in their procurement since the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS) is approved,” said Malaysia’s Plantation Industries and Commodities minister Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong.
In a statement from Japan, Mah assured Japan that the Malaysian government in protecting the environment and taking care of social wellbeing of smallholders while developing its economy.
The minister recently lead a trade mission to Japan comprising businessmen and representative from the Ministry of Plantation and Industries (MPIC), Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB), Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB), Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council (MREPC), Malaysian Timber Council and Malaysian Palm Oil Certification Council (MPOCC).
Last year, Japan emerged as Malaysia’s fourth largest trading partner in the agricultural commodity sector, behind China, the US, and India.
“In the first 10 months of this year, we’ve shipped RM8.04 billion worth of agricultural products over to Japan, 14.5 per cent more than RM7.03 billion, for the same period a year ago,” Mah said.
During their visit to Nisshin OilliO Group and KAO Corp’s facility and museum in Japan, Mah and his delegation gained an insight into Japanese companies’ commitment towards usage of sustainably-produced palm oil.
Japan is the world’s third largest consumer of rubber, behind China and the US, consuming 1.7 million tonnes per year.
Mah also held a roundtable discussion with Japan Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (JRMA), Rubber Trade Association of Japan (RTAJ), Japan Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association (JATMA), and the Carbon Black Association.
There are currently more than 30 Japanese companies in Malaysia manufacturing rubber related products.
The Minister encouraged the Japanese rubber community to increase their investment in Malaysia, citing opportunities for greater usage of technologically advanced products such as EKOPRENA and PUREPRENA.