Palm Oil Conference Opens in Bali

Indonesia is the world's second largest crude palm oil producer after Malaysia. Palm oil is one of the main export commodities of Indonesia with output reaching 14.7 million tons last year. It was only fitting then that a conference on the subject be held in the country.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla opened the June 19 to 23 International Oil Palm Conference in Nusa Dua, Bali yesterday according to a business news report. Chairman of the organizing committee Witjaksana Darmosarkoro said over the weekend experts and businesspeople in the oil palm industry would participate in the event. Indonesia previously held similar events in 1998 and 2002.

Under the title Optimum Use of Resources, Challenges and Opportunities: Sustainable Oil Palm Development the experts will discuss various issues in the palm oil industry, including technology, productivity and environmental concerns. Indonesia apparently has the largest palm oil plantations in the world covering 5.5 million hectares. Its export value increased by two percent to US$7.59 billion in April this year from the previous month.

About 800 participants from countries including Malaysia, India, Papua New Guinea, and regions including the European Union, Africa and North and Latin America will attend the event organized by the Oil Palm Research Center, the Indonesian Plantation Research Agency and the Agriculture Research and Development Body.

Indonesia is also in the forefront of exploring ideas in alternative fuel sources in an effort to reduce the use of fossil fuels which are blamed for a majority of the environmental pollution. Palm Oil was a product of interest as was cassava and other tuber plants.