Serdang: Some 121 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) worth approximately RM8 billion are anticipated to be formalized during the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Exhibition (MAHA) 2026 at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu announced that around RM4 billion of these agreements will involve collaborations with China, with the remainder involving other countries. The MoUs are set to focus on technology exchange, investment opportunities, and capacity building and training for farmers, including Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). Additionally, they aim to create avenues for local agri-food products to penetrate export markets.
Minister Mohamad emphasized that the MAHA Go Global initiative would play a crucial role in extending the reach of local products, particularly in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. "That is why, through MAHA Go Global and FAMA, we hope to play a greater role in expanding markets for Malaysian products, particularly in markets where we are still lagging behind," he stated during a press conference following the inauguration of MAHA 2026 at MAEPS. Present at the event were his deputy Datuk Chan Foong Hin and the ministry's secretary-general Datuk Seri Isham Ishak.
Highlighting specific local products, Mohamad pointed out that pineapples and durians have substantial potential for expansion into international markets. Malaysia's pineapple exports now exceed RM1 billion, and the demand for durians in China remains robust, offering further growth opportunities.
A significant focus of MAHA 2026 is on value creation, ensuring that local agricultural produce is not merely sold as raw commodities but also processed into higher-value downstream products. This approach aims to reduce the country's reliance on exporting raw materials and subsequently importing processed products. "We do not want to export raw materials and then import products processed overseas. If possible, we should process them ourselves, so that value creation continues all the way to the end user in Malaysia," Mohamad elaborated.
The agriculture sector has shown promising growth in its contribution to Malaysia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with expectations for this to rise further this year. Efforts to enhance agricultural exports are being intensified to help balance the country's agri-food import bill, which currently exceeds RM80 billion. "We are now increasing our exports. That is what we are working on. Through MAHA, we can step up these efforts," he added.
MAHA 2026 is taking place from August 28 to September 6 at MAEPS, featuring approximately 2,000 exhibitors and aiming to attract more than four million visitors.