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The
fish processing industry mainly involves the processing of
prawns/shrimps into frozen products, canning of fish, surimi and surimi
products. Its earnings in 1995 totalled RM824mil
According
to Liliwati, world demand for frozen seafood is increasing, especially
in Japan and the US. Demand for processed prawns is expected to remain
strong at 3 million tonnes per year.
“Demand
for fish and fishery products is expected to rise due to population
growth, rise in per capital income and the growing awareness of their
health benefit,” she said. “It is estimated that the total local
demand for fish products by the year 2005 is 1.3 million tonnes.”
On
livestock, Liliwati said peninsular Malaysia was self-sufficient in
poultry and pork and there was potential for exporting processed poultry
to Singapore in place of live stocks and also to Japan and the Middle
East.
As for the
processed fruit industry, Liliwati said domestic market was expected to
rise with the increased awareness of health and quality food.
Liliwati
believed that fruit juices, especially, had potential in the
international market.
She said
other than chilli sauce, tomato sauce and soy sauce, the local vegetable
processing industry at present was still undeveloped.
Imports of
processed vegetables in 1996 totalled RM138mil while exports was only
RM60mil a year.
Liliwati
said that to this end, the government would help by providing land for
commercial cultivation of fruits and vegetables.
“In the
long term, the private sector is encouraged to undertake investment and
joint ventures in the Asean growth area for this,” she added.
Liliwati
said that as Malaysia was the sixth largest producer of cocoa beans in
the world, there was opportunities in down streaming into intermediate
products such as cocoa butter, cocoa powder and finished products such
as chocolates, confectionaries and beverages.
“Rapid
economic development in the East Asian region together with fast
changing consumer habits indicate good
prospects for investors to look into producing cocoa related products
for investors such as flavouring, coating for bakery products, ice cream and beverages,” she added.
“These
could be for the Malaysian market and for export to Asean countries,
Japan, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong,” she added.
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