Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Singaporean counterpart, Lee Hsien Loong marked a historic milestone when they launched the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority's (Fama) first agrobazaar in Singapore to serve as a one-stop centre for consumers to buy halal products from Malaysia.

In his speech at the official launch, Najib said the project was also a testament to the strong and enduring relationship between Malaysia and Singapore.

He said this project would not have succeeded without continuous support from the government and businesses of Singapore.

The prime minister said the bazaar aimed to bring the best of Malaysian produce to some of the most discerning consumers in Asia.

According to Fama, an agency under the Malaysian Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry, the Agrobazaar Malaysia in Singapore (ABMS) at Sultan Gate will provide a more permanent platform to promote and share Malaysian fruits and agro-based food products among Singaporeans and international visitors.

As a model hub for Malaysian products, the agrobazaar - a brainchild of Najib - is viable and can be further expanded to other countries.

Najib announced the setting up of ABMS when tabling the Budget 2014 in Parliament in October last year.

Also present at the event was Najib's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, the ministry secretary-general, Datuk Mohd Arif Abdul Rahman, Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore Datuk Husni Zai and Fama director-general Datuk Ahmad Ishak.

ABMS is based on the Fruit, Grocery, Restaurant (Fru-ce-rant) concept which focuses on premium tropical fruits and fruit-based products, sale of agro-based products and food and beverage (F&B) services, especially tropical fruit-based products.

It serves to bring more produce direct from Malaysian farms to ensure that farmers and small and medium enterprises benefit from market expansion, especially tropical fruits and fruit-based products
Singapore has been picked as Fama's agrobazaar foray into the international market, given that it is the primary market for Malaysian agro-food products.

Other factors include Singapore's close geographical proximity to Malaysia and its large population of expatriates.