121 MoU RM8 bilion dijangka dimeterai sempena Maha 2026

The Malaysian Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Mohamad Sabu, inaugurated the Malaysian Agricultural, Horticulture and Agrotourism Show 2026 (Maha 2026) at the Malaysian Agricultural Exposition Park, Serdang today. The event is expected to see 121 Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) worth around RM8 billion sealed during the show.

According to Sabu, approximately RM4 billion of these deals will involve cooperation with China, while the remainder will involve partnerships with other nations. These collaborations are expected to encompass technology exchange, investment opportunities, capacity building, and training for farmers, including education and technical and vocational training (TVET), in addition to opening avenues for exports of local agro-food products.

Furthermore, Sabu stated that Maha Go Global will serve as a platform to expand the market for Malaysian products, particularly in Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe. He expressed hope that Maha Go Global, along with the Malaysian Agricultural Marketing Corporation (Fama), will play a more significant role in the future to ensure that Malaysian produce can be marketed in the mentioned countries, which are currently lagging behind.

With the inauguration of Maha 2026, the two most promising export products are bananas and durian, with banana exports already exceeding RM1 billion and Chinese demand for durian remaining high and having significant growth potential. The primary focus of Maha 2026 is to create value by ensuring that local agricultural products are not only marketed in their raw form but are also processed into higher-value products.

This approach is crucial to prevent Malaysia from continually exporting raw materials while importing processed products from other countries. Meanwhile, Sabu noted that the agricultural sector is showing positive growth in its contribution to the country's gross domestic product (GDP), and he is optimistic that this contribution will increase this year.

He emphasized the need to boost the export of agricultural products to offset the value of imported agro-food items, which currently exceed RM80 billion. By elevating this export effort, Malaysia aims to capitalize on Maha's potential. The Maha 2026 show ran from August 28 to September 6 at Maeps, gathering around 2,000 exhibitors and expecting over four million visitors.