The mission led by minister for primary industries Dato Seri Lim Keng Yalk, will hold discussions with top policy makers in the country. The interactive sessions are expected to create heightened awareness about the scope of trade in palm products, particularly in the context of recent liberalisation of India's Exim policy, a press release from Malaysian palm oil promotion council said.

The mission will emphasise the proven nutritional superiority of palm oil over other oils and its economic advantages especially for the Indian market, the release added.

Apart from policy makers from the Malaysian government, the broad-based mission comprises senior functionaries of the Malaysian palm oil promotion council (MPOPC), palm oil research institute of Malaysia (PORIM) and palm oilregistration and licensing authority (PORLA), all key organisations affiliated with the Malaysian palm oil sector. In addition, a host of private sector personnel representing varied interests - manufacturing, trading and others - including oil palm plantation, processing and marketing of a wide range of palm-based products is accompanying the mission.

Trade between the two countries has risen to over three billion dollars in 1998-99, the release added.