JOHOR BAHRU, 4 August 2015 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) has signed a Letter of Corporation (LoC) with The Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) to harness experts and resources from both parties to collaborate effectively in the field of palm oil processing.
The ceremony took place at the Meeting Room, level 17, Menara Razak, UTM Kuala Lumpur campus. UTM Palm Oil Research Centre Director, Dr. Sune Balle Hansen signed the LoC on behalf of UTM while RSPO was represented by its Secretary General, Datuk Darrel Webber.
UTM Vice-Chancellor in his speech after the signing ceremony said that this collaboration will enable both parties to be synergized and optimized.
“UTM strongly believes in collaborating with local industries to ensure that research conducted in this university contributes not only to academic journals but to the well-being of the nation towards universal prosperity.”
“I sincerely hope that this collaboration will be the impetus for further collaboration and sharing of expertise which will further promote UTM’s research expertise and facilitate the commercialization of UTM’s research products,” said Prof. Wahid.
With this  signed LoC, both parties have agreed that cooperation shall involve Research and Development (R&D) activities and knowledge sharing sessions to further enhance the environmental, social and economic sustainability of palm oil production.
Also at the ceremony was Prof. Datuk Dr. Sharifah Mastura Syed Abdulah, Director, Institute for Climate Change, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Chair of Academic Research on Palm Oil Sustainability (ARPOS).