Malaysia To Increase Investor Participation In Local Tuna Industry

By Maizaitul Sabirah Magis@Aziz KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will increase the participation of local and foreign investors in expanding the tuna fish industry in the country, considering the sector has huge potential for growth. Malaysia's Fisheries Department deputy director-general (Management) Johari Ramli said the department had targeted to have 51 per cent local investors and 49 per cent foreign investors' participation in the industry. "The tuna market has huge potential to be developed and we are in the process of upgrading the industry. "By attracting more investors, it will help elevate the tuna industry in Malaysia, which is among the tuna products producers to Europe, Japan and the United States," he told Bernama after launching the 2nd ASEAN Task Force Meeting and the 6th ASEAN Tuna Working Group Meeting here, Monday. The three-day meeting beginning Monday involving entrepreneurs, researchers and investors from Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand represents a platform to jointly seek and exchange ideas to maintain the tuna industry sources in ASEAN countries. Johari said at present, Malaysia markets about 6,000 tonnes of neritic tuna and 1,800 tonnes of oceanic tuna fish worth US$76.59 million (RM334 million)annually to local and international market. He said the department was also taking efforts to assist traders and entrepreneurs in the small and medium enterprises to increase the marketing promotions for tuna products in the country. Meanwhile, commenting on seafood sources following the haze, he said the department had not received any complaints from fishermen on reduction in catch. "At the moment, supplies are sufficient and I advise the fishermen to always monitor and follow the weather information in the media for safety reasons," he said. --BERNAMA