The Minister of Agriculture and livestock Development, Selwyn Riumana told the new Malaysian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Madame Blanche Olbery, of the massive investment opportunities in the Oil Palm Industry.

Malaysia is one of the leaders in the World in the Oil Palm Industry.

Mr Riumana said the ruling CNURA government is placing a lot of emphasis on Oil Palm development in the recently launched National Agriculture Policy Framework.

He said Oil palm has a huge potential to drive the economy of Solomon Islands.

The Solomon Islands Government remains committed to enhancing the Agriculture Technical Cooperation with the Malaysian Government to strengthen agriculture and livestock development in the country.

Under the new policy, the Solomon Island government is intending to develop 40,000 hectares of oil palm by 2020.

Some progress has been made recently to secure land in three provinces for oil palm development.

In Malaita, 10,000 hectares of land has been secured while Western and Choiseul Provinces have 5,000 hectares each respectively.

Meanwhile, High Commissioner Olbery has encouraged the government to press on with oil palm development.

Ms Olbery has pledged her government's willingness to assist Solomon Islands develop its palm oil sector under the Agriculture Technical Cooperation between the two countries.