Malaysia should explore Dutch expertise, especially in agricultural technology

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia should explore a wide range of Dutch expertise, especially in the agricultural technology, water management system, research and development (R&D), and education sectors.
Considered the "gems of Europe", the Netherlands has many advantages that can be exploited through various efforts, including cooperation, transfer of technology and student enrolment, Malaysian Ambassador to the Netherlands Datuk Ahmad Nazri Yusof (pix) said.
"The Netherlands has a lot to offer, but we have yet to exploit its full potential," he said.
In agriculture, he said the Netherlands was the world's second largest exporter of agro-food products and the highly developed agricultural sector resulted in cheaper food products and low cost of living.
He said as Malaysia was focusing on promoting agricultural products, it could learn from the Netherlands' advances in terms of expertise, R&D, technology and concept in developing its agricultural sector.
"I think we can learn a lot from them as we still at the infant stage," he told Bernama in an interview at his office at The Hague, the Netherlands recently.
Trade in agricultural products is in favour of the Netherlands. In 2015, the export value of Malaysian agro-food products to the Netherlands amounted to RM1.66 billion, up from RM1.38 billion in the previous year.
Malaysia's major agro-food exports to the Netherlands comprise processed items, cocoa, coffee, tea, spices and fish products.
On the other hand, Malaysia imported RM8.38 billion worth of agro-food products, especially processed items, vegetables and dairy products from the Netherlands in 1985.
The success of Malaysian agricultural products entering the Dutch market is good it is the gateway to the European continent, he said, adding that however, the export value needed to be increased by improving the quality of the products.
On the transfer of agricultural technology, he said Dutch companies were ready to cooperate and this opportunity should be seized to develop Malaysia's agricultural sector to reduce food imports and lower the cost of living.
He said several states had shown keen interest in exploring Dutch agricultural expertise, with Perak being the latest state to do so.
A Dutch company is keen to invest in the production of vegetable seedlings in Malaysia and this augurs well in the transfer of technology, as well as becoming a catalyst to the agricultural sector, he said.
In water management, he said as the Netherlands is situated below the sea level, its water management technology was very advanced.
"Even some developed countries, including the US, are using the technology and hiring Dutch consultants to solve their problems. Hence, Malaysia can explore them by sending students to acquire the expertise.
"Why not see it for yourself first, if it is good, then use it," he said.
On R&D, he said the Netherlands was also the R&D location of many multinational companies like Microsoft, IBM and Oracle.
On education, he said although several Dutch universities were in the global best universities ranking, only 56 students were currently sponsored by the Malaysian government to pursue post-graduate studies.
Ahmad Nazri suggested that Malaysia should also students for undergraduate studies as Dutch universities offered many courses in English, thus attracting many foreign students, especially from China and the Middle East.
On bilateral ties between Malaysia and the Netherlands, he said the good relations were further enhanced due to the excellent cooperation between both countries in the aftermath of the downing of the MH17.
On tourism, he said tourist arrivals from the Netherlands to Malaysia had declined, possibly due to the absence of direct flights between both countries, while Malaysia Airlines no longer provided services to the country.
On investment, he said three Dutch companies were exploring opportunities in solar energy, LED lighting and agriculture in Malaysia, while Malaysian investors' interest in the Netherlands was somewhat lukewarm due to global slowdown and Brexit. — Bernama