VIGO (Spain): Malaysian International Tuna Port Sdn Bhd (MITP) has taken another step towards making Malaysia a major tuna player in Asia with the signing of a pact with an influential Spanish seafood industry organisation.
Its Spanish collaborator is the National Fish and Seafood Canners Association (known by its Spanish acronym, Anfaco), which has over 190 member companies.
MITP chief executive director Datuk Annuar Zaini Binyamin said this was a significant move not just for the company but also for the Malaysian seafood industry because of Spain’s leading position in the European Union’s (EU) seafood market.
From left: Datuk Dr Zulkifli Idris, Datuk Annuar Zaini Binyamin and Juan M. Vieites Baptista de Sousa. - Bernama “The agreement will add another dimension in the cooperation between Spain and Malaysia,” he added after the signing ceremony here on Wednesday. “As the largest seafood producer in Europe, Spain will be a good partner.”
The agreement is for scientific and technological co-operation between MITP and Anfaco’s innovation and technology affiliate, the National Technical Canned Fish Products Centre.
The alliance allows Malaysia to have a better understanding of the EU seafood health standards. In addition, it is an avenue for the Malaysian seafood industry to provide input on the challenges in meeting these standards.
Annuar Zaini said the parties planned to set up a working committee soon to facilitate the implementation of the agreement.
He signed the agreement on behalf of MITP, while Anfaco secretary general Juan M. Vieites Baptista de Sousa was the other signatory. Among the witnesses were Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Zulkifli Idris and Malaysian Ambassador to Spain Datuk Naimun Ashakli Mohammad.Zulkifli said the agreement had the support of the Malaysian government.
“We are trying to complement the seafood industry in Spain, not compete with it,” he added.
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