KUALA LUMPUR—Johari Bin Abdul Ghani, Malaysia's minister of plantation and commodities, doesn't shy away from his belief that this country knows the rubber industry like no other.
"No one understands rubber like Malaysia does, and by extension, no one understands rubber gloves better than Malaysia," he said during the opening ceremony of the International Rubber Glove Conference and Exhibition (IRGCE), held Sept 3-5 in Kuala Lumpur by the Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association.
Rubber gloves, he noted, have evolved from being merely personal protective equipment in the health care sector to becoming essential in many industries, including semiconductors.
"Malaysia remains at the epicenter of this growth," said the minister, who added the consumption rate for rubber gloves is projected to rise by around 6-8 percent annually.
In 2023, he said, Malaysia's rubber glove industry captured 45 percent of the global market and is set to contribute nearly $2.9 billion to domestic GDP this year.
The government recognizes "the extensive economic benefits, from upstream cultivation to downstream manufacturing," continued Johari Bin Abdul Ghani.
He also noted challenges, such as the "volatility of our rubber prices together with emerging issues like untapped areas and plant diseases deeply affected the production and yield of raw rubber."
Malaysia's ministry of plantation and commodities is addressing these issues by "leveraging" technology and research to enhance productivity, quality and global competitiveness.
"Our new commercially driven model will significantly increase the country's rubber yield, optimize plantation and labor management, and ultimately, improve the income of rubber smallholders," Johari Bin Abdul Ghani added.
The minister went on to note an expansion of sustainable practices within the industry, including the development of eco-friendly gloves, water-conservation initiatives, and investments in renewable energy.
Platforms such as the IRGCE, he concluded, are "more crucial than ever, as we navigate the complexities of globalization, technological progress, and the increasing use of AI and data analytics in both upstream cultivation and downstream manufacturing."