The Honorable Mr. Sim Tze Tzin, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry, Federal Government of Malaysia accompanied by an entourage of his staff will be visiting WorldFish Headquarters in Penang, Malaysia on Friday, 10 May 2019. The visit is part of the Honorable Mr. Sim Tze Tzin effort to learn more about how WorldFish’s work helping Malaysia in its effort to continue developing fisheries and aquaculture sustainably.

During the visit, the Honorable Mr. Sim Tze Tzin, will be accompanied by WorldFish board member and Director General of Fisheries Malaysia, The Honorable Dato’ Haji Munir Bin Haji Mohd Nawi; Senior Director of Research, FRI, DOF, Dr. Zainoddin Bin Jamari; Senior Director of Biosecurity Division, DOF, The Honorable Dato Adnan Bin Hussain together with delegates from Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry, Department of Fisheries and Parliament Officer and will be welcomed by WorldFish Director General, Dr. Gareth Johnstone and the Executive Team.

Official visit by Malaysia Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry

Building a stronger partnership for a sustainable future

'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 on 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.

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.

About the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry

The Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry (MOA) also know as Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani, is a ministry of the Government of Malaysia that is responsible for agriculture, agro-based industry, agritourism, livestock, veterinary services, fisheries, quarantine, inspection, agricultural research, agricultural development, agricultural marketing, pineapple industry, agribusiness, botanical garden, food security, food sovereignty.