Friday, October 12, 2001 (The Star) - GOLDEN Hope Plantations Bhd expectsto maintain its performance next year despite bearish crude palm oil (CPO)prices and uncertainty over its exports to India and Pakistan.Golden Hope chairman Tan Sri Ahmad Sarji said he expected the company tomeet its targeted 10% increase in earnings for the year ending June 30,2002, through cost-cutting and higher productivity.The group, he said, also expected its property division to do well in thecurrent year with new flagship property projects in the pipeline.“We will keep to our target and remain hopeful,’’ he told reporters afterGolden Hope’s AGM and EGM in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.Sarji said Golden Hope’s exports to Pakistan and India were slightlyaffected by the recent 1% increase in freight charges and disruption ofshipment.“I think the government and the industry would soon be able to find analternative route to help overcome this setback,’’ he said.Golden Hope produces about 360,000 tonnes of CPO and exports about halfits output to Pakistan and India.Sarji said the profit target for 2002 was made before the US air strikeson Afghanistan, adding that the group was unable to ascertain theirpossible impact on its exports.The Gulf War in 1990, he added, had a positive impact on exports to Indiaand Pakistan.On the group’s plans to expand downstream, Sarji said talks on theacquisition of companies were on-going.He said the group was planning flagship projects in strategic locations toprepare itself for a pick-up in the property market.Sarji expressed hope the government would introduce more measures andincentives, especially to support the adoption of information andcommunications technology and double the tax deduction for training in theupcoming budget.