MELAKA: Malaysia’s palm oil export market has huge potential to be expanded to Turkey, Pakistan and Iran due to the high utilisation of the commodity in the three countries.
Deputy Primary Industries Minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin said during a recent palm oil, economic, promotion and investment mission to the three countries, it was found that Karachi (Pakistan) used more than one million tonnes of palm oil annually, while Istanbul (Turkey) used 700,000 tonnes and Tehran (Iran) used 600,000 tonnes per annum.
He said the efforts to explore new markets was a way to expand the palm oil market to new territories following the proposed ban by the European Union (EU).
“This is also part of our efforts to stop the EU which has been going all out in its effort to discriminate against palm oil.
“I believe with the strategy undertaken by the ministry, both domestically and globally, and being directly involved with industry players in those countries, we hope there will be an increase in the purchase of palm oil and other downstream products,” he said.
He told Bernama this after attending the Ponggal Festival, organised by the Hang Tuah Jaya Keadilan Youth Wing in Peringgit here on Sunday.
Shamsul Iskandar said the ministry was also intensifying the “Love MY Palm Oil” campaign which was launched in January to maximise the use of the oil in Malaysia since the domestic consumption is only at 70 per cent, currently.
“The government will be increasing its efforts and will conduct more programmes to increase the people’s awareness and understanding to reach the 100 per cent palm oil usage target.
“We are also focusing on promoting other downstream health food products which are seen as having anti-cancer and antioxidant capabilities,” he added. – Bernama
