BERUAS, Jan 23 (Bernama) -- The Primary Industries Ministry will hold aroundtable conference with all groups involved in the palm oil industry toidentify ways to increase productivity.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik said the conference would alsodiscuss marketing strategies and better management between smallholders,estates and state governments.

He said the conference followed a directive from the Prime Minister DatukSeri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who wanted more discussions between thegovernment and palm oil indusrtry players.

"It would involve those under the government scheme, estates and palmoil-based ventures," he said at his Chinese New Year open house in hisBeruas parliamentary constituency in Air Tawar near here.

Dr Lim said such discussions were essential to ensure Malaysia remained asthe world's dominant palm oil producer.

He said the target could be achieved if the palm oil prices, currently atRM1,750 per tonne, continued to surge and surpass last year's income ofRM28 billion.

Palm oil prices are now at an all time high over the last few months andfar exceeding the RM800 per tonne in 2000.

Dr Lim said those in the industry should not be complacent with currentprices because they were duty-bound to maintain Malaysia's reputation asthe world's main producer of the commodity.

-- BERNAMA