ISLAMABAD: The International Seminar on the Sustainability of Palm Oil Industry and Derivative Products was held at the COMSTECH Auditorium in Islamabad.
Organized by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Pakistan (COMSTECH) and the Indonesian Embassy, the seminar brought together a diverse audience, including journalists, Banaspati oil company owners, food industry representatives, ambassadors, and Indonesian students interested in the palm oil sector and bilateral trade.
Experts from Indonesia and Pakistan discussed the nutritional value, extensive use, and sustainable production methods of palm oil and its derivatives.
They emphasized palm oil’s significance across various industries, including food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and biofuels. The seminar underscored the importance of palm oil to OIC member countries, particularly major producers like Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and Cameroon.
Palm oil is crucial for Pakistan, constituting 30% of its agricultural imports and making the country the world’s third-largest importer, with imports totaling US$3.86 billion in 2022. The seminar aimed to promote a scientific approach and research efforts for sustainable palm oil production, focusing on certification schemes, responsible land use, and conservation measures. Additionally, there was an emphasis on developing high-yielding and disease-resistant palm oil varieties.
Key speakers included H.E. Rahmat Hindarta Kasuma, Chargé d’Affaires of the Indonesian Embassy, and Prof. Dr. Khurshid Hasnain, COMSTECH’s Advisor for Science and Technology. They highlighted the benefits of proper palm oil production and shared Indonesia’s successful approaches to labor issues and forest conservation related to palm oil production.
The event facilitated meaningful dialogue and collaboration on sustainable palm oil production and derivative development. The partnership between COMSTECH and the Indonesian government has been growing over the past three years, notably through the COMSTECH Research Fellowship Program in Virology and Vaccine Technologies, in collaboration with Biopharma and the Indonesian Ministry of Health.
Fourteen research fellows from nine OIC countries have benefited from the program, with ten more fellows participating this year.
Additionally, COMSTECH and Indonesia plan to organize an exhibition later this year focusing on nutraceuticals and cosmetics made from natural and halal ingredients.
