KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and Uzbekistan have agreed to strengthen strategic cooperation in the agriculture and agri-food sectors, covering aquaculture, sustainable irrigation technology, and research and development (R&D), the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (KPKM) said in a statement on Sunday (June 14).
The commitment was reached during a bilateral meeting between its minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu and his Uzbek counterpart, Ibrokhim Abdurakhmonov, in Tashkent yesterday during a working visit to the country.
The ministers also discussed food security and the use of smart technologies to boost agricultural productivity in both countries.
"Agri-food trade between Malaysia and Uzbekistan reached RM338.48mil from January to December 2025. Malaysia’s main exports included coffee, cocoa, tea, spices and processed food products, while imports comprised high-value fruits such as grapes,” the statement read.
During the meeting, Mohamad expressed Malaysia’s readiness to share expertise and best practices in aquaculture, seafood production and quality control systems, particularly in the shrimp industry.
Malaysia also shared its experience in using biofloc technology, which has successfully increased aquaculture productivity in limited spaces and could support the development of Uzbekistan’s fisheries sector.
Uzbekistan, meanwhile, expressed interest in Malaysian expertise, technology and investment to strengthen its fisheries industry, boost domestic food supply and support regional food security.
To advance future agricultural development, both countries agreed to make digital transformation a key focus through cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), digital agriculture and sustainable water management.
Mohamad also welcomed discussions between the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) and Uzbekistan’s Centre of Knowledge and Innovation in Agriculture (Akis) to finalise a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on agricultural R&D.
Both sides also encouraged business-to-business (B2B) collaboration between agricultural companies and industry players, complementing existing government-to-government (G2G) ties.
During the meeting, Mohamad extended an official invitation to Uzbekistan to participate in the Malaysian Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Exhibition (Maha) 2026, scheduled from Aug 28 to Sept 6.
He also officiated the launch of Meraque Group’s operations in Uzbekistan and is scheduled to attend the Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF) 2026, which will be opened by Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on June 17. - Bernama
