ISKANDAR PUTERI: Malaysia is set to achieve more than RM7bil in cocoa export value this year, says Datuk Seri Dr Early Jeck Seng.
The Deputy Plantation Industries and Goods Minister said within 2021, the foreign trade value of cocoa plus cocoa-based products contributed RM6. 87bil to the Gross Domestic Item (GDP), which is a boost of 9. 5% compared to RM6. 27bil in 2020.
“Until July this season, the export value for cocoa plus cocoa-based products offers reached RM4. 4bil, which is an increase of more than 11% compared to the export value in the exact same period in 2021.
“Therefore, I am very optimistic that people can reach a lot more than RM7bil in total this season in line with the target placed in the National Agricommodity Policy 2021-2023, ” he added.
The Tanjung Piai MP said this after officiating the Malaysia cocoa trade hub at Forest City Golf Resort here on Monday (Sept 26).
He added that will Malaysia was currently the second largest cocoa bean processing country in Asia as well as the sixth in the world, adding as much as 6. 8% of the world’s total cocoa grinding capability.