Direct flights will increase Malaysia-Poland trade – envoy

The availability of direct flights between Kuala Lumpur and Warsaw would help to extend the positive momentum in bilateral trade between Malaysia and Poland, says Malaysia’s ambassador to Poland.

Chitra Devi Ramiah said because of the lack of direct flights currently, Malaysians have had to make do with the direct flights between Warsaw and Singapore that were recently started by Poland’s national airline LOT Airlines.

It would be better if direct flights between Kuala Lumpur and Warsaw were available, she said, noting that diplomatic relations between the two countries have existed since 1971.

Trade between the two countries between January and August this year hit RM1.6 billion, up 6.3 percent over the same period last year.

Malaysia's exports to Poland this year include electronics and electrical goods, rubber products, machinery, steel products and chemicals, while imports include electronics and electrical goods, processed food, manufactures, and chemicals and chemical products.

“There are still wide opportunities for the people of both countries to explore in the trade sector,” she said, citing the marketing of halal food, education and tourism.

She also noted that Malaysian students in Poland number fewer than 100, including 56 at the Medical University of Warsaw (MUW).

The Tourism Malaysia office in Malaysia recorded 19,000 Poles visiting Malaysia in 2017, up 6.9 percent over 2016.

Universiti Malaysia Perlis’ (UniMAP) ‘Jelajah Ilmu” programme to Poland recently has also helped to strengthen educational ties between the two countries.

The programme, led by UniMAP Chancellor, the Raja Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail, also featured a Perlis food promotion in Krakow.

- Bernama