07/09/2012 (Bernama) - Peru is keen to share Malaysia's experience in the development of its oil palm plantations with the view to converting its illicit drug areas into productive plantations.

They are keen to share Malaysia's experience in the "Buku Hijau" (Green Book, a project mooted by the late Malaysian premier Tun Abdul Razak in 1974 to encourage the greening of empty areas into economically viable land), and also its approach of establishing a sense of belonging when solving the communism problem, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said following his meeting with Peruvian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rafael Roncagliolo Orbegoso.

The ministers met on the sidelines of the APEC Ministers Meeting which entered its second day in Russky Island here Thursday.

Malaysia is one of the countries they are keen to establish strong trade and investment links and believe that the country has the capacities in the areas and also want to move beyond the leader to leader links and establish people to people links as well, he said.

"They have invited Malaysian companies to invest in the plantation sector and Sime Darby Bhd is already engaged in early negotiations to have its operations there," he said.

Sime is awaiting the approval of Peru's regional authority for a 70,000-hectare site that would involve an investment of about US$100 million to US$300 million, he said.

"Nonetheless, security is an important factor here and there would have to be a guarantee of security from Peru if the company is to start its operations in the country, which has been countering serious drug problems," he said.

Peru is also impressed with Malaysia's furniture industry and is inviting Malaysian companies to invest in this sector, while another area of interest for them is the halal industry, he said, adding that Malaysia was keen to learn from the South American country's expertise in the fishing industry.

On another note, the minister also confirmed that Canada and Mexico have become the latest members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

They would be officially included in the agreement this December, he said.