A proposal to make Afghanistan the ‘golden gateway’ for Malaysian palm oil into Central Asia has been discussed by representatives from both countries, The Edge Markets reported on 10 April.
Afghanistan ambassador to Malaysia, Dr Mohib Rahman Spingar, had discussed the possibility with the Malaysian Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) minister Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali, according to the report.
Khairuddin said Afghanistan had also welcomed the proposal to import more Malaysian palm oil, with both parties agreeing to explore the potential expansion of Malaysia’s direct palm oil exports to the country, which currently stood at 75,000-150,000 tonnes/year.
“The understanding opens a new chapter for Malaysian palm oil to be marketed to Central Asia with Afghanistan as ‘the golden gateway’ to other countries such as Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and even to Kazakhstan and other countries through the two Chabahar ports in Iran,” Khairuddin was quoted as saying in a statement.
Both parties had agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the proposal in the near future, The Edge Markets wrote.
