Malaysia aims to be chocolate king of Asia
Industries and Commodities Minister says the cocoa industry spurred 25,000 employment opportunities last year as it grew by 3 per cent
Malaysia is targeting to become the “King of Chocolate in Asia”, after the local cocoa industry raked in RM5billion (US$1.2 billion) in exports last year.
This was the highest recorded for the industry, and it was due to the high demand and stable price of cocoa, said Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong.
He added that efforts were being taken to increase the production of cocoa to make Malaysia the next “King of Chocolate in Asia”.
According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, Asia’s top producer of cocoa is Indonesia.
“It is estimated that the cocoa industry contributed a total of RM1.566billion (US$380 million) to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), consisting of RM16 million (US$3.86 million) from the upstream sector and RM1.406 billion (US$340 million)from the downstream sector,” said Mah in his opening address of the Malaysia Cocoa and Chocolate Day (MCCD) 2016, which was read by Malaysian Cocoa Board chairman Datuk Dr Marcus Makin Mojiggoh.
The MCCD, themed “Cocoa-More than Words”, is a promotional programme organised by the ministry in conjunction with the international Cocoa Day celebrated on October 1st each year.