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KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin hopes to place Malaysia as Asia's premier cocoa hub through the revival of the Malaysian International Cocoa Fair (MICF) after a decade-long hiatus.

"Our goal is to position Malaysia once again as the leading cocoa hub in Asia," Chan said at the MICF pre-launch ceremony held at Hilton Kota Kinabalu, here, Monday.

"The return of MICF, especially to Sabah, is a strategic step toward this vision. This fair represents more than just an event, it is a statement of Malaysia's commitment to reclaiming our position as Asia's cocoa hub," he said.

The MICF event, scheduled for May 24-27 here coincides with Sabah's Harvest Festival.

Chan said this timing is strategic as global cocoa markets face significant challenges, with prices reaching unprecedented levels due to supply shortages in major producing nations like Ivory Coast and Ghana.