Export Of Palm Oil Products Reached RM49.6 Billion Last Year

BANGI, Feb 11 (Bernama) -- The income from the export of palm oil products last year reached RM49.6 billion following an increase in the production of the commodity.

The Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Datuk Hamzah Zainudin said the increase in production also contributed to the total export of palm oil products of 15.87 million tonnes.

"The strategic approach being implemented by the government in the area of research and development, has succeeded in yielding a new innovation which has had an impact on enhancing the prestige of the palm oil industry," he added.

He said this in his closing speech at a ceremony to present certificates to 47 participants of a Plantation Machine Operators Course (KOML) for the September 2009 session here Thursday.

His speech was read by the Director General of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), Datuk Dr Mohd Basri Wahid.

It was reported earlier that the export of palm oil products is expected to exceed RM100 billion in 2020 following initiatives to effectively enhance production.

In 2008, the export of palm oil products was worth RM65.2 billion.

Hamzah said the encouraging achievement of the country's oil palm industry is also attributed to the progress in research and quality control undertaken by the MPOB.

He said to date, MPOB's research has resulted in more than 440 technology encompassing the upstream sector and production of downstream products which have been accepted and endorsed by the industry.

He also stated that the area under palm oil cultivation has also increased by 4.5 per cent.

This he added, enabled the total area under oil palm cultivation, to reach 4.69 million hectares last year.

Commenting on the KOML, Hamzah said the involvement of local youths in the plantation sector would reduce the dependance on foreign labour which is estimated to reach 300,000.

"The dependence on foreign workers in the plantation sector does not benefit the country as there is an outflow of money overseas and also causes social problems," he explained.

Hamzah said the KOML is being implemented to produce local workers skilled in the operation of agricultural machinery to fullfil the needs of the oil palm industry and this is very important.

He also highlighted that the plantation sector and the cultivation of oil palm had moved to modern, efficient methods, including the use of agricultural machinery.