At the fifth The Star Roundtable on Palm Oil held recently at Menara Star in Selangor, industry captains – IOI Corporation Bhd CEO Datuk Lee Yeow Chor, Malaysian Palm Oil Council CEO Tan Sri Dr Yusof Basiron, United Plantations Bhd vice chairman and chief executive director Datuk Carl Bek-Nielsen, Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd group president and CEO Datuk Zakaria Arshad, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd CEO Tan Sri Lee Oi Hian and Sarawak Oil Palms Bhd group CEO Paul Wong – joined in the forum led by The Star’s executive editor Errol Oh. With 2017 marking 100 years of commercial oil palm cultivation in the country, the roundtable assessed the industry and the challenges it faces; market competition; MSPO and RSPO certification and standards; and the road ahead
From an agricultural commodity, palm oil has transformed into a well-diversified industry.