The Malaysian Rubber Trade and Business Mission to Hainan and Yunnan, China on 12 - 18 October 2009, organised by the Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB), was timely as the strong demand from China for rubber was on the increase in line with their robust growth in the automobile industry. The Mission to China gave the Malaysians an insight on the development of the upstream and midstream sector.
The Mission, headed by the Director General of MRB, Y.Bhg. Dato' Dr Kamarul Baharain bin Basir, comprised 17 members of the Malaysian rubber industry who represented government-link companies, leading processors and traders of the Malaysian rubber industry.
The objective of the Mission were:The Mission met with prominent organisations that are involved in the rubber industry, both in Hainan and Yunnan. In Hainan, the delegates visited the Rubber Research Institute (RRI), Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultureal Sciences (CATAS) and the Hongguang State Farm Processing Factory while in Yunnan the Mission took the opportunity to visit the Jinghong State Farm Processing Factory in Xishuangbanna. At all these meetings, the Mission was received by top officials and the discussions were fruitful touching a wide range of topics involving the rubber industry.
Dialogue sessions with the Hainan State Farm Group (HSF), the Yunnan State Farm Group (YSF) and the China Natural Rubber Association (CNRA) was also organised in both, Hainan and Yunnan. These dialogue sessions were well attended and Mission delegates were able to interact closely with their Chinese counterparts with a view of venturing into future businesses and joint-ventures. During the dialogue sessions, MRB took the opportunity to explain certain important aspects of trade and gave updates on the Malaysian rubber inudustry. The Hainan and Yunnan State Farms expressed their intentions in fostering ties with the Malaysian suppliers, be it natural rubber or rubber products. In summary, they had shown interest to source their supply from Malaysia.