KUCHING: The Ministry of Plantation and Commodities is looking forward to working closely with the United Kingdom, the new partners in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to promote trade between the two countries.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the ministry not only welcomes the UK’s acceptance into the CPTPP but also UK’s remarks regarding palm oil.
“We welcomed UK Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch’s remarks regarding palm oil, where she rightly dispelled the myth of deforestation and the negative campaign on the commodity.
“Indeed palm oil is a great and healthy product that is being widely used and can be a competitive product.
“Therefore, we welcome their statement and we are looking forward to working together with UK in this commodity field,” said Fadillah who is deputy Prime Minister.
He said this when met by reporters during the Mung Bean Porridge (bubur kacang hijau) distribution programme organised by the Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK) of Enam Taman Kuching at Surau Al-Hidayah, Taman Sejoli, Petra Jaya here on Sunday.
On whether the UK’s participation in the CPTPP has anything to do with European Union (EU) restrictions on the entry of certain commodities, Fadillah said it was a different matter.
“This is because the UK is no longer part of the EU,” he said.
However, Fadillah said the ministry will still engage with the EU.
“Hopefully with the engagement, they will understand our efforts towards sustainable palm oil and our forest product,” he added.
The progamme that Fadillah attended saw a total of 350 mung bean porridge distributed to the community in the area.
