PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia will showcase its unique identity throughout its Asean chairmanship by offering a wide variety of local delicacies to thousands of foreign guests.
Foreign Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Amran Mohamed Zin said for instance, dishes like kerabu bronok and latok will be served to more than 200 foreign delegations at the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Retreat in Langkawi.
“In Laos last year, every meeting or dinner featured river weed from the Mekong River.
“We hope that the local delicacies from Langkawi will capture the interest of our visitors,” he said at a press conference yesterday.
Kerabu bronok is a unique Langkawi dish, made with the sea cucumber species Acaudina molpadioides.
Latok, also known as Caulerpa lentillifera, is a type of seaweed typically enjoyed as a salad or side dish.
Amran said local products would be promoted throughout Malaysia’s Asean chairmanship, providing valuable business opportunities for micro, small and medium enterprises.
“Some of these products have already been purchased as part of the hospitality extended to visiting guests,” he added, Bernama reported.
To ensure cleanliness of the locations hosting Asean-related meetings and programmes, Amran said Wisma Putra would collaborate with the Housing and Local Government Ministry and local authorities.
The Asean Foreign Ministers’ Retreat, which commences this Saturday on the holiday island of Langkawi, will officially mark the beginning of the Asean meetings under Malaysia’s chairmanship.
Throughout the year, Malaysia will host more than 350 major meetings and programmes nationwide, all centred around the theme of “Inclusivity and Sustainability”.
