04/08/2012 (Bernama) - Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and Sawit Kinabalu Saturday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance research of palm oil, especially in Sabah.

Through the MoU, UMS will set up a Sustainable Palm Oil Research Unit (SPOR) with the Palm Oil Industry in Malaysia to lead the research on palm oil products together with Sawit Kinabalu.

Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman who witnessed the signing ceremony represented by Prof Dr Mohd Harun Abdullah from UMS and Sawit Kinabalu Managing Director Othman Walat said the venture would trigger a new wave in the development of the palm oil industry.

"The palm oil industry is a major player in the country's economy, in line with Sabah as the biggest producer of palm oil in the country with an estimated production area of 1.4 million hectares.

Musa hoped research carried out through the latest initiative would enhance existing products or develop new intellectual products and property that can be commercialized.