WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND: Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Sarawak, Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, paid a courtesy call on New Zealand’s Minister for Biosecurity and Food Safety, Associate Minister of Agriculture (Animal Welfare and Skills) and Associate Minister for the Environment, Andrew Hoggard, during his official visit to Wellington.

The meeting underscored the growing partnership between Sarawak and New Zealand in promoting agricultural innovation, veterinary training, dairy development and biosecurity enhancement.

During the discussion, Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi outlined Sarawak’s intention to strengthen collaboration with New Zealand in developing the state’s cattle industry through knowledge exchange, modern breeding systems and improved feedlot and traceability practices.

He said Sarawak plans to send its veterinary officers for professional training and technical attachments in New Zealand as part of a structured knowledge-transfer initiative to enhance technical expertise and field experience.

He also expressed Sarawak’s interest in exploring business partnerships in the dairy sector through technology sharing and potential joint ventures with New Zealand producers. As New Zealand currently restricts live-cattle exports, Sarawak is considering the importation of bovine semen from New Zealand to improve local breeding quality and accelerate herd expansion.

Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi added that Sarawak is equally keen to study New Zealand’s biosecurity framework, particularly its border control systems, disease-surveillance networks and emergency-response mechanisms, which have earned the country its global reputation as a “disease-free” producer. He noted that such insights would be instrumental in strengthening Sarawak’s own veterinary preparedness and food-safety infrastructure.

“New Zealand’s success lies in its comprehensive, science-based model that unites policy, research and on-ground implementation. Sarawak aims to adapt these best practices to build a resilient and globally competitive livestock sector,” Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi said.

Following the courtesy call, the Sarawak delegation attended a series of technical briefings at the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), where senior officials including Jim Sim, Dr Jed Johnson, Dr Lia Missena and Glen Webber, presented on Verification Services, the Halal Assurance System and the Animal Health Surveillance Programme.

These sessions provided Sarawak with deeper insights into New Zealand’s integrated food-safety regulation, halal certification and animal-health governance.

Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi said the engagements marked a significant step towards establishing long-term cooperation in livestock research, veterinary capacity-building, dairy investment and biosecurity management.

“We are committed to aligning Sarawak’s food and commodity sectors with international best practices. This partnership will accelerate our journey towards becoming a clean, competitive food-producing state by 2030,” he said.

Also present were Deputy Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Sarawak, Datuk Martin Ben, Director of the Department of Veterinary Services, Datu Dr Adrian Susin Ambud, Senior Principal Assistant Secretary, Liew Ju Jeng, Senior Veterinary Officer, Dr Sylie Al-Harir, Media Officer, Marvin Anak Masan, and Malaysia’s High Commissioner to New Zealand, Mazita Marzuki, accompanied by Second Secretary, Adrina Zulkarnain. - UKASnews