Malaysia To Invest, Collaborate With Research Bodies To Further Boost Use Of Palm Oil

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 26 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will continue to invest and collaborate with major international research institutions to further promote the use of palm oil in new areas. Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister, Douglas Uggah Embas, said he is optimistic that the country's investments in palm oil research will result in more palm-based products for the global community. "This would include the suitability of palm-based tocotrienols to address heart diseases, strokes, dementia, cataracts, respiratory tracks infections and various common cancers. "Malaysia has all along invested in research and development (R&D) to ensure that this versatile oil is suitable for a wide range of applications as well as its nutritional attributes," Uggah said this at the launch of Uniolean Sdn Bhd, a joint-venture between United Plantation Bhd and Belgium-based Oleon, here Tuesday. He said the collaboration, involving US$27.49 million (RM91.85 million) investment, would result in production of oleo derivatives that included glycerol monostearate (GMS) and distilled GMS as food emulsifier. "The joint-venture will strengthen the long-term development of the palm oil downstream sector in the country and be a proud record of the cooperation between Malaysia and Belgium," he said. --BERNAMA