Rubber Industry Has Growth Potential, Says Minister Mah

SUBANG JAYA (Selangor, Malaysia), Dec 16 (Bernama) -- The rubber industry still has potential to move forward leveraging on science and technology innovation, says Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Mah Siew Keong. He said the industry will continue to be an important sector in the country due to its growth potential as well as being an income source for some 440,000 rubber smallholders. "As such, the government will ensure that the price of the commodity will continue to be high by creating more value added products to boost the demand for and usage of rubber," he told reporters at the launch of the Green Rubber Sound Insulator here Friday. The Malaysian Rubber Board will continue to explore new technologies to ensure continued demand for rubber and capitalise on green inventions as a potential export generator to lift the Malaysian economy, he said. On next year's outlook, Mah said rubber exports will continue to be strong especially for rubber products, adding with the new rubber technologies, the outlook for the industry would be positive. Malaysia exported about US$4.02 billion (RM18 billion) worth of rubber products last year, with the value as of October this year at US$3.32 billion (RM14.87 billion), he added. (US$1 = RM4.47) -- BERNAMA