Minister Darell Receives Official Visit From Argentinian Vice-President

KUALA LUMPUR, May 6 (Bernama) -- International Trade and Industry Minister Darell Leiking Monday received an official visit from Argentinian Vice-President Marta Gabriela Michetti who is here for a five-day visit to the country beginning May 2. During the private meeting at his office here, Darell and Michetti agreed that there are growth opportunities in the bilateral trade and investment relations between the two countries, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) said in a statement Monday. “Darell acknowledged the enormous prospects of Argentina and the Mercosur economic bloc to further deepen Malaysia’s trade and investment ties within the Latin America region,” it said. Darell also emphasised the need for the governments and businesses in both nations to work hand in hand to explore mutually beneficial opportunities, address the existing challenges and improve the processes. “Being the fifth largest economy in the world, Malaysia definitely is interested to establish a partnership with Mercosur. MITI is exploring the feasibility of a Free Trade Agreement with Mercosur,” he added. In 2018, Argentina remained as Malaysia’s third largest trading partner among Latin American countries after Brazil and Mexico, with total trade of RM5.39 billion (US$1.3 billion), while Malaysia was Argentina’s fourth largest trading partner among ASEAN countries. Palm oil and palm oil-based agriculture products are among the major exports to Argentina after rubber products; electrical and electronic; and petroleum products. -- BERNAMA