Malaysia offers its cooperation in Palm oil growing in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Group’s President Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA) of Malaysia Dr. Mohd. Emir Mavani Abdullah has said that FELDA is ready for cooperation regarding growing Palm Oil in the coastal areas of Balochistan and Sindh.
The CEO of FELDA apprised this to the Chairman BOI Mohammad Zubair during a meeting here on Monday. He said that Pakistan’s palm oil import was around 70 percent of its total imports from Malaysia.  He also agreed to send a technical evaluation team to Pakistan to see the situation on ground. FELDA to lease 3,000 hectare from the Government and also advise neighboring farmers on
the best farming techniques.
Government to ensure farmers’ adherence to the terms and conditions agreed with FELDA. A minimum of 30,000 hectares will be required for the purpose.
After the briefing of the Malaysian delegation, Chairman BOI stated that Pakistan is increasingly dependent on imports to make up for the gap. Pakistan imports mostly palm oil which accounts for more than 96 percent of its total imports.  He said that we need Malaysian collaboration in the own-steaming activities of palm oil leading to the development of soap, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics may be sought. The need for the training of manpower for oil palm plantation, management and production technology may be emphasized, in this regard.
He further said that Pakistan was the fourth largest importer of palm oil in 2012 trailing behind China, India and Netherlands. Out of the total imports of $1.86 billion of edible oils, import of palm was $1.3 billion (accounting 70% of total imports). The import of palm oil may be reduced by undertaking of investments in Pakistan in the form of joint ventures with palm oil players.
He also welcomed the suggestion of the CEO FELDA that Pakistan can explore the possibility of planting palm oil in Pakistan, as many Malaysian companies are looking overseas to expand their businesses because of shortage of land in Malaysia.
The Federal Land Development Authority (more commonly referred to as FELDA) is a Malaysian government agency initially founded to handle the resettlement of rural poor into newly developed areas and to organize smallholder farms growing cash crops. FELDA has launched a number of private corporate entities. The largest of these, Felda Global Ventures Holdings, is considered to be the world's largest plantation operator, with 811,140 hectares (2,004,400 acres) of oil palms, mainly across Peninsular Malaysia, but also including other parts of Malaysia and the world.  It is the third largest palm oil company in the world by planted acreage.