Malaysia And Bosnia Need To Cooperate In Agriculture Sector



PUTRAJAYA, June 30 (Bernama) — Malaysia and Bosnia and Herzegovina
need to find new approaches in the agriculture sector as a way out to
the current global food crisis, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah
Ahmad Badawi said Monday.

He said both countries could identify each other’s strengths in the
agricultural sector and collaborate in the development of the
agro-based industry.

“We must certainly pay attention to the current global crisis
concerning food including the big increases in the price of food
items,” he said in his opening remarks at the Malaysia-Bosnia and
Herzegovina delegation meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office.

The Bosnian side was led by its president Dr Haris Silajdzic. Also
present were members of the presidency Nebojsa Radmanovic and Zeljko
Komsic.

Abdullah said both nations also need to encourage their private
sectors to explore new trade and investment opportunities including
collaborations in housing and infrastructure projects.

He said halal food production was another potential area the private sectors of the two countries were looking into.

The prime minister said Malaysia would continue to extend its
assistance in training and human resources development programmes for
the Bosnians.

Malaysia and the Balkan state need to generate new momentum and
expand the scope of cooperation between the two countries, he said.

Malaysia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, he said, shared in common one
very important aspect of nationhood as both countries represent plural
societies, comprising multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious
groups.

Bosnia and Herzegovina consists of Muslims, Croats and Serbs while Malaysia comprises Malays, Chinese and Indians.

Abdullah said they could certainly share and benefit from their respective experiences in nation-building.

“We can beneficially compare notes on the system of power-sharing,
on the need for compromises and tolerance, goodwill and harmony so that
we can develop our respective countries under conditions of peace and
stability,” he said.

After the meeting, Dr Haris handed to Abdullah six scholarships
for Malaysian students to study medical, fine arts and music and
Slajevic language at the Sarajevo University in Sarajevo.

This is the first time Bosnia and Herzegovina is offering
scholarships to Malaysian students. About 150 Bosnian students have
graduated from Malaysian universities thus far.

Dr Haris is in Malaysia on a five-day visit beginning last Saturday. Abdullah visited Bosnia and Herzegovina in June last year.