Malaysian stamp on OIC food plan

2009/11/10

TAN Sri Muyhiddin Yassin says Malaysia will share what it knows to help formulate a road map for food security proposed for the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

The deputy prime minister said the road map, once implemented, would boost food supply sufficiency for OIC member nations and create new economic activities for them.

"Food security is a major concern of the OIC and the organisation has decided to create a road map to tackle the problems many member nations face.

"On our part, we will share our knowledge and experiences to help formulate the road map," he told reporters after attending the inaugural Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC) summit here yesterday.

Towards this end, Muhyiddin, who is leading a delegation at the day-long summit, said a task force would be set up at the OIC secretariat and COMCEC headquarters.

Similar task forces would also be set up at the Islamic Development Bank and at the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation.

The summit was held in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of COMCEC and the 40th anniversary of the OIC.

Muhyiddin said the road map would focus on efforts to boost the food production of every OIC member nation.

"This entails closer cooperation on technology sharing and financial assistance among members.

"We have the know-how and experience and will share with OIC nations for the benefit of every member."

He said other pressing issues discussed by COMCEC were on global energy market, the environment, renewable energy, energy efficiency and water management. Intra-OIC trade and investment strategies were also discussed.

Citing an example, he said trade between Malaysia and OIC nations accounted for only 22 per cent of the country's total trade and this could be further increased.

"OIC has the strength and numbers to boost trade among member states and we need to explore new opportunities in this area."

On the Malaysian-mooted trade preferential system, Muhyiddin said the signs were positive as many OIC members had signed and ratified it.

Once implemented, Malaysia, for instance, could offer up to 10 per cent reduction in tariffs for goods and services from OIC states.

On the proposed standardisation of halal food and products for OIC states, he said Malaysia would help formulate the framework, which included the general guidelines on halal food and products, guidelines for accreditation as well as guidelines for bodies issuing the accreditation.

He said the move would boost trade opportunities for OIC states considering that the world trade in halal food and products was worth about US$1 trillion (RM3.5 trillion) annually.