25/06/2014 (Bernama) - The Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, YB Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas will be leading a Palm Oil, Rubber, Timber and Pepper Promotion Mission to Mumbai and Kerala, India from 26 June to 1 July 2014. YB Datuk Amar Douglas uggah Embas will be accompanied by senior officers from the Ministry and Agencies: 

•  Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang

Chairman, Malaysian Timber Council;

• Dato’ Henry Sum Agong

Chairman, Malaysian Pepper Board;

• Haji Ahmad Lai Bujang

Chairman, Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council;

• Dato’ Lee Yeow Chor

Chairman, Malaysian Palm Oil Council;

• Datuk Dr Choo Yuen May

Director General, Malaysian Palm Oil Board;

• Tan Sri Yusof Basiron

Chairman, Malaysian Palm Oil Council; dan

• Dr. Salmiah Ahmad

Director General, Malaysian Rubber Board.
 
 
The objective of this mission are:

• strengthen palm oil, rubber, timber and pepper exports to India; and 

• promote business linkages between the private sector in Malaysia with their counterparts in India.

 
During the visit to Mumbai from 26 -  29 June 2014, YB Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas  will officiate and deliver a keynote address at POTS India 2014. This event is organised by MPOB and MPOC aimed at promoting palm oil exports to India. This seminar is aimed at among others, disseminating information on the latest developments in the palm oil industry to manufactures and importers. POTS India 2014 is expected to be attended by about 250 participants comprising mostly private sector representatives from India.

• In addition, YB Minister will also schedule to attend a roundtable discussion with rubber and timber associations in India. The discussion is aimed strengthening bilateral trade between both countries especially in rubber and timber products.
• The mission will visit Kerala from 29 Jun to 1 July 2014. The itinerary of the visits includes briefing on India Rubber Price Stabilisation Fund by Indian Rubber Board. This fund is aimed at assisting rubber smallholders in India. The visit to Spices Board India is aimed at exploring possible areas and cooperation between Spices Board India and the Malaysia Pepper Board.

India is Malaysia’s third largest global export destination for palm oil with export value of USD1.96 billion in 2013 and accounted for 10.2% of total exports of palm oil products. For the period of January to March 2014, exports of Malaysian palm oil products to India were valued at USD0.48 billion. Major palm oil products exported to India in 2013 were palm oil, oleochemicals and palm kernel oil.
 
In 2013, exports of timber products to India were valued at USD48 million, an increase of 3.7% from USD46 million in 2012. The major timber products exported to India in 2013 were wooden furniture, wood and sawn timber joinery.
 
Other commodity products exported to India in 2013, include rubber products valued at  USD60.5 million, cocoa products valued at RM26.7million and pepper products valued at USD8.9 million.