The Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Manlio Di Stefano, today received at the Farnesina the Malaysian Minister of Primary Industries, Teresa Kok Suh Sim, whom he had already met in Kuala Lumpur last December.
The Undersecretary congratulated the Minister over the excellent bilateral relations that recorded sizable trade volumes worth 2.3 billion euros in 2018. In recalling that several Italian companies are operating in Malaysia, Mr Di Stefano emphasised how the Country is a privileged partner for Italy, also as the strategic gateway to the broader area of Southeast Asia.
Agreeing on the advisability of joining forces to further strengthen bilateral economic relations, Undersecretary Di Stefano and Minister Kok Suh Sim also addressed the issue of palm oil-based biofuels and the EU Directive RED II. The Malaysian delegation illustrated the national strategy to protect forests and the national palm oil sustainability certification system. Undersecretary Di Stefano underscored the need to continue along the road of sustainable production and of combating deforestation.
