palm oil

As Malaysia has only reached 42 per cent target of the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification programme, Dr Mahathir says it would be a difficult task to meet the 100 per cent certification target by the end of 2019.

Some of the recommendations from the Department of Agriculture (DA) are the monitoring by Malaysia and Indonesia of reports of smuggling of crude and refined palm oil into the Philippines and for the two countries to open up their markets to Philippine coconut-based products 'to correct the trade imbalance.'

The Department of Agriculture (DA) earlier recommended the temporary ban on Malaysian and Indonesian palm oil imports through the imposition of quantitative restrictions.

Pinol then recommended a temporary ban on palm oil importation from Malaysia and Indonesia, which he reiterated last week upon finding out that European Union has already banned the entry of palm oil imports from these two countries over environmental issues.

Malaysia is the second biggest palm oil producer after Indonesia.

Amaning hinted that a research, conducted by his team, indicated that lack of quality technological infrastructure for extraction and milling processes, lack of government support and less attention to farmers in the oil palm industry are some reasons Ghana is unable to supply palm oil to compete fairly with Malaysia, Indonesia and other countries on the world market.

The global demand for palm oil has resulted in the rapid expansion of unsustainable oil palm plantations, particularly in Malaysia and Indonesia.

"Palm oil can be made without destroying forests, yet our investigation discovered that Mondelez suppliers are still trashing forests and wrecking orangutan habitat, pushing these beautiful and intelligent creatures to the brink of extinction.

"Much of the risk from palm oil is thought to derive from other toxic products mixed in it such a diesel oil from ships."

Palm oil is a vegetable fat extracted from palm trees, particularly the West African oil palm, a tree which was introduced to South-east Asia in the 19th century.

In his presentation, Director Tri Purnajaya said that there were at least three things that underlie the need for strengthening the national palm oil diplomacy.

Palm oil applications vary widely because they can be processed and blended to produce a vast range of products with different characteristics.

Islamabad -- Pakistan was a major importer of palm oil to meet its domestic needs while Indonesia was the world's largest producer of palm oil and its investors should set up joint ventures in Pakistan for production and processing of palm oil that would help in reducing our import bill, this was observed by Ahmed Hassan Mughal, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry while exchanging views with WisnuSuryoHutomo, Head of Economic and Commercial Department, Embassy of Indonesia during his visit to Chamber House.

KARACHI -- With the aim of bridging its current account deficit, Indonesia organised a conference and exhibition for palm oil to expand its export market and was also planning to send a trade mission to Pakistan.