‘WorldFish renowned scientists could assist Malaysia to thrive in advancing Blue Economy and Blue Growth concept in fisheries and aquaculture’. - said the Honourable Mr. Sim Tze Tzin, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry, Federal Government of Malaysia, during his visit at WorldFish headquarters in Penang, Malaysia on Friday, May 10th 2019. There are over 16 different nationalities working together at WorldFish and more than 60 percent of the staff are of Malaysian nationality. WorldFish’s base in Penang is a gateway to knowledge, learning and innovation that stretches from local to global levels, with students and post-graduates from 3 universities across Malaysia and others from around the world being part of regular internship positions promoted at WorldFish.
Sustainable Development Agenda (SDG) 2030, a game changer for the country
Marking one year since the new Malaysian government has been appointed, the visit highlighted the Deputy minister’s interest in WorldFish’s work to help Malaysian fisheries and aquaculture sector develop sustainably. Indeed, WorldFish and the Department of Fisheries Malaysia have been collaborating in various projects since the first year of its establishment in Penang in (insert date), 2000. Part of the discussion between the Deputy Minister Sim Tze Tzin and WorldFish’s executive team and leading researchers was finding new ways to achieve Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and also continue advancing the blue economy agenda by increasing research and collaboration regionally and globally.
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From left to right, Ms. Nurulhuda Ahmad Fatan, Supervising Research Analyst on the Sustainable Aquaculture; and students from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, School of Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences, explaining how lab analysis and digestibility tests on novel feed ingredients were carried out.
Malaysia is the 25th most competitive economy in the world according to the Global Competitiveness Report (GCR) from the World Economic Forum, for with an up and coming private sector that would benefit greatly from sustainable aquaculture, resilient small-scale fisheries and value-chain nutrition. Capacity building for research bodies and continuous knowledge sharing is part of WorldFish’s commitment towards strengthening Malaysia’s leadership and influence among ASEAN countries on the critical role of fisheries and aquaculture to provide people with healthier diets through fish, empower vulnerable communities to be more resilient in the face of climate change, and create sustainable jobs and economic opportunities, particularly for women and young people.
World Seafood Congress, hosted for the first time in Penang, Malaysia
September 2019, WorldFish and the United Nations’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will partner in organizing and hosting the 2019 World Seafood Congress for the first time in Penang. The event while bringing together distinguished scientists, leaders and private sector actors to discuss exciting research innovations, collaboration and investment opportunities for building a sustainable and inclusive seafood industry. Honourable Mr. Sim Tze Tzin expressed the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry of Malaysia’s support in hosting this event successfully as it will help raise the profile and visibility of Malaysia as a leading country in aquaculture research for South-East Asia.