KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- About 1,400 participants from 43countries will attend the three-day International Palm Oil Congress (2001PIPOC) beginning here tomorrow until Wednesday.

The theme of this year's congress is "Cutting-edge technologies forsustained competitiveness".

Primary industries minister Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik will officiallydeclare open the congress tomorrow.

Dr Lim will also launch ePOMEX (Malaysia Palm Oil Exchange) at thecongress.

ePOMEX is an industry initiative in a paradigm shift to move thetraditional practice of buying and selling of oil palm products to anelectronic platform which brings together growers, millers, refiners,downstream manufacturers and overseas in a single marketplace via theInternet.

This year's congress has a wider technical programme comprising varioussectors like agriculture, chemistry and technology, oleochemicals, foodtechnology and nutrition, economics and marketing.

The congress will also feature an exhibition showcasing variousinnovations and technological advances already available in themarketplace.

The congress is designed to provide participants with an opportunity todiscuss various issues related to palm oil, the world's second mostpopular and most cost-competitive edible oil, and exchange new ideas tohelp the oil palm industry grow in tandem with new challenges. -- BERNAMA