Pakistan and Malaysia have agreed to strengthen rice trade as both countries seek deeper agricultural and food-security cooperation.
The understanding followed a series of high-level meetings between Pakistani officials and Malaysian authorities in Kuala Lumpur.
Federal Secretary for National Food Security and Research Amer Ali Ahmed led discussions alongside Federal Secretary for Commerce Jawad Paul.
Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Malaysia Syed Ahsan Raza Shah also joined the meetings with key Malaysian institutions.
The discussions focused on expanding Pakistani rice exports while meeting Malaysia’s quality standards and market requirements.
BERNAS Talks Focus on Pakistani Rice Exports
A key meeting took place with BERNAS Group CEO Dato’ Dr. Sirajuddin bin Suhaimee and his management team.
The Pakistani delegation discussed ways to increase rice exports to Malaysia while meeting BERNAS quality standards and requirements.
Officials from the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Department of Plant Protection and Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan attended the meeting.
Officials from the Pakistan High Commission also participated in the discussions.
The two sides further discussed Pakistan’s participation in the Malaysia International Halal Showcase.
They highlighted stronger market links and greater bilateral trade as important areas for future cooperation.
Pakistan and Malaysia Discuss Halal Certification
The officials also reviewed cooperation between Pakistan and Malaysia on halal certification and agricultural supply chains.
During a meeting with JAKIM officials, both sides discussed progress under the memorandum of understanding between JAKIM and the Pakistan Halal Authority.
The agreement aims to strengthen technical and institutional cooperation between the two sides.
The officials stressed the importance of sharing expertise and improving certification mechanisms.
They also discussed ways to make Malaysian market access easier for Pakistani halal-certified agricultural and food products.
Wider Agricultural Cooperation on the Agenda
Another meeting brought Pakistani officials together with Datuk Seri Isham bin Ishak, Secretary General of Malaysia’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
The discussions covered several areas beyond rice, including meat, poultry, fisheries and aquaculture technologies.
The two sides also discussed animal vaccines, biosecurity and halal gelatin supplies.
Both countries agreed that stronger institutional links could support agricultural trade and technical cooperation.
They further agreed to establish a formal mechanism for continued engagement on agriculture and trade.
The process will begin with a joint virtual meeting scheduled for November this year.
What the New Rice Push Means for Trade
The latest discussions reflect efforts by Pakistan and Malaysia to widen agricultural trade and improve market access.
Rice remains a central part of the engagement, while halal certification could support broader food exports.
At the same time, both countries are seeking closer cooperation on agricultural supply chains and technical expertise.
The November meeting is expected to provide another platform for continuing these discussions.
For Pakistan, the latest engagement could open further opportunities for rice and other halal-certified food products in Malaysia.
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