28/09/2010 (Bernama), Kuala Lumpur - The Cabinet has agreed to include the rubber industry as part of the National Key Economic Areas (NKEA) along with the palm oil industry, to preserve the importance of the indutry to the country, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said.

"The foundation of the country since its formation has been one of the top products for quite a while," he told reporters after launching the fifth International Rubber Gloves Conference and Exhibition here Teusday.

He added, unfortunately, due to the growing fortune of the palm oil industry, many rubber land plantations had became oil palm land plantations, giving it as the reasons of the inclusion of rubber industry as part of the NKEA alongside palm oil industry.

However, rubber glove industry players are confident that the rubber gloves industry wil continue to grow and contribute to the government efforts in bringing in more foreign investment.

Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council chief executive officer Datuk Teo Suat Cheng said the world's demand for rubber gloves is expected to grow to RM30billion by 2020.

Currently, the global demand for rubber gloves is 150 billion pieces a year or equivalent to RM12 billion and this is expected to grow 10% annually.

Malaysia is contributing 65% of the supply.

"In 2010 and 2011, the industry's top players will be focusing more on promoting and marketing in emerging markets such as India, China, Latin America and Middle East," she said.

Malaysian rubber gloves export last year amounted to an estimated RM7.15 billion and this is expected to grow up to RM25 billion by the year 2020.

The fifth International Rubber Gloves Conference and Exhibition is Organised by the Malaysian Rubber Gloves Manufacturers' Association (MARGMA). It id aimed at educating and providing information on the latest trends and development of the rubber gloves and disposable medical device industries.