SITIAWAN, Jan 20 (Bernama) -- A US-based public relations company will beappointed next month to promote the use of palm oil and palm tree biomassin the local and international markets, Primary Industries Minister DatukSeri Dr Lim Keng Yaik said Sunday.

He said the company, Arthur De' Little International, would be assigned tolist down new discoveries related to oil palm products besides findingpotential companies that would develop the end products.

He said the products would include those that used oleo-chemicalderivatives from palm oil and biomass, which is made from the trunks,fronds and empty branches of the trees.

"The National Economic Action Council discussed with the ministry on theappointment of the company yesterday after it met the company'srepresentatives recently," he told reporters after launching a free healthscreening programme for the residents of Kampung Baru Ayer Tawar, nearhere, Sunday.

Dr Lim declined to reveal the fees and other terms involved, saying thedetails would be disclosed after the agreement was signed in two weeks'time.

-- BERNAMA