SERDANG, Aug 29 — Some 121 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) worth about RM8 billion are expected to be signed in conjunction with the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Exhibition (MAHA) 2026 at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (Maeps) here.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said about RM4 billion of the total would involve partnerships with China, while the remainder would involve other countries.
He said the agreements would cover technology exchange, investment opportunities, capacity building and training for farmers, including Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), as well as creating opportunities for local agri-food products to enter export markets.
He added that the MAHA Go Global initiative would also help expand the reach of local products, particularly in Central Asia and Eastern Europe.
“That is why, through MAHA Go Global and FAMA, we hope to play a greater role in expanding markets for Malaysian products, particularly in markets where we are still lagging behind,” he told a press conference after officiating MAHA 2026 at Maeps here today.
Also present were his deputy Datuk Chan Foong Hin and the ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Seri Isham Ishak.
Mohamad identified pineapples and durians as among the local products with strong potential for expansion into international markets.
Malaysia’s pineapple exports now exceed RM1 billion, while demand for durians in China remains high, providing room for further growth, he said.
A key focus of MAHA 2026 is value creation, ensuring that local agricultural produce is not only sold as raw commodities but also processed into higher-value downstream products.
The approach is important to prevent the country from exporting raw materials and later importing processed products from overseas, he added.
“We do not want to export raw materials and then import products processed overseas. If possible, we should process them ourselves, so that value creation continues all the way to the end user in Malaysia,” he said.
The agriculture sector has also shown positive growth in its contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with the ministry expecting this to increase this year.
Efforts to boost agricultural exports need to be intensified to help balance the country’s agri-food import bill, which currently exceeds RM80 billion.
“We are now increasing our exports. That is what we are working on. Through MAHA, we can step up these efforts,” he said.
MAHA 2026 is being held from August 28 to September 6 at Maeps, featuring about 2,000 exhibitors and targeting more than four million visitors. — Bernama
Date: 29 August, 2026 3:08 pm
Source: Malay Mail
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