12/09/06 (NSTP)  - The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) will continue to look at commercialisation of research and technology to help develop the palm oil industry.

"So far, 30 per cent of the technology has been commercialised and transferred for the benefit of the industry. This will also open up business opportunities for small- and medium-sized entrepreneurs," MPOB director Datuk Dr Mohd Basri Wahid said at the Berita Sawit contract-extension signing ceremony at Balai Berita yesterday.

Berita Sawit is a monthly pull-out in the Berita Harian that features articles on Malaysia's palm oil industry.

A total of 350 new technologies and products have been developed so far to increase palm oil's competitive edge, Mohd Basri said.

The technologies are for various sectors such as planting, manufacturing and processing, food, oleochemicals, biomass and palm oil-based biofuel.

Palm oil is the nation's main agriculture commodity with exports contributing RM28.6 billion towards Malaysia's total export income in 2005.