M'SIA WILLING TO EXPAND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH US IN AGRICULTURE, FOOD SECURITY - KPKM

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 5 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has expressed its willingness to expand its strategic partnership with the United States (US) in the agriculture and food security sectors, including the production of corn for animal feed, improving agriculture mechanisation and automation as well as developing round cabbage crops in low-lying areas.

The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (KPKM) said that secretary-general Datuk Seri Isham Ishak expressed the ministry’s willingness while receiving a courtesy call from Deputy Chief of Mission at US. Embassy to Malaysia, David H Gamble.

He also welcomed US investments in Malaysia’s agriculture and food security sectors, including the development of technology such as Internet of Things, and improving seed varieties.

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"As such, the ministry, with the cooperation of the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) and the Agricultural Department (DOA) are expected to conduct a working visit to the US soon for the purpose of benchmarking Malaysia’s food health and agriculture control systems,” the ministry said in a statement today.

The working visit is in line with the commitments under the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) framework, and aims to boost supervisory capabilities, strengthen international confidence and support the national agrofood transformation and modernisation agenda.

The ministry also said that today’s courtesy call was the continuation of the strong bilateral ties between Malaysia and the US, particularly in the agriculture and food security fields, with both parties exchanging views about efforts to boost agriculture trade cooperation.

"The courtesy call reflects both country’s continuous commitment to strengthen strategic relations in the agrofood sector, in line with Malaysia’s efforts to boost food security and improve the national agricultural value chain,” the ministry said.

Agriculture trade between Malaysia and the US exceeded RM14.68 billion as of September 2025, including exports of Malaysia’s various agricultural products to the US, such as coffee, cocoa, tea, spices and processed agricultural goods, while US imports cover a variety of food products.

-- BERNAMA