Ministry of Agriculture holds bilateral talks with Malaysia, Timor-Leste, and Myanmar on cooperation

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare conducted bilateral meetings on Wednesday and Thursday with three countries to discuss the formulation of institutional frameworks for cooperation in areas of mutual interest in agriculture and allied sectors.

The meeting was headed by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his counterparts from Malaysia, Timor-Leste and Myanmar.

According to the statement released by the Ministry, the Union Minister met his three counterparts on the sidelines of the 9th ASEAN–India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry (9th AIMMAF).


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The bilateral meet between India and Malaysia was conducted by the Union Minister and Mohamed Bin Sabu, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security.

During the meet, Chouhan acknowledged the importance of sharing knowledge, expertise and best practices, and expressed interest in strengthening collaboration in joint agricultural research, technology and innovation through the mechanism of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide an institutional framework for cooperation in areas of mutual interest in agriculture and allied sectors during the meet, said the presser.

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The bilateral meet between India and Timor Leste was headed by Chouhan and his Timor-Leste counterpart Marcos Da Cruz, Minister, Minister of Agriculture Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry on September 9, said the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

According to the release, Da Cruz expressed interest in building strong institutional mechanisms between both sides to address various challenges in Agriculture and ensuring food security for their nation.

Chohan reiterated India’s support in advancing their agriculture research and innovation capabilities through exchange of scientists and experts, and human resource development.

The Timorese minister also sought India to depute a team of technical and scientific experts to Timor-Leste to assess ground-level challenges and provide technical recommendations in the areas of agriculture, forestry, livestock and aquaculture.

Chouhan also met Myanmar’s Union Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation on September 9, said the release.

The two sides also discussed the trade potential between the two countries and highlighted mutual areas where strong partnership could be established, such as pulses, cotton, dairy development and agriculture education.

According to the release, the Myanmar delegation also suggested favourable investment opportunities in the country to focus on strengthening economic and agricultural ties between the two countries.