On August 4th, an international conference titled 'Food Safety & Innovation: Palm Oil Solutions for Central Asia' took place in Tashkent. The event was organized by the Association of Vegetable Oil Producers of the Republic of Uzbekistan (APVO) in collaboration with the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC).
The main objective of the conference is to strengthen the food security of the Republic of Uzbekistan. This is achieved through the diversification of the oil and fat industry, the implementation of advanced vegetable oil processing methods, the expansion of raw material sources, increasing the production of high value-added food products, attracting investments, and enhancing international cooperation.
The event received support from several major global players in the oil and fat sector. Myande Group served as the General Sponsor, while the domestic company 'Maselko' was a sponsor. Official partners of the conference included HUATAI Group, Wilmar International, and FAYZ OIL.
This conference became the largest industry event in the region. For the first time, leaders of oil and fat associations from five countries—Uzbekistan, Malaysia, China, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan—gathered in one place in Tashkent. Participants included representatives from state structures, diplomatic missions, international organizations, the scientific community, relevant associations, and leading global corporations.
Addressing the attendees, the Chairman of the Association of Vegetable Oil Producers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Doctor of Technical Sciences Oibek Zufarov, emphasized that the development of the modern oil and fat industry, the application of innovative technologies, and deepening international partnerships are critically important for ensuring Uzbekistan's food security.
The opening ceremony was attended by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Kakhramon Yuldashev; Director of the Agency for Technical Regulation under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Akmal Zhumanazarov; the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Malaysia to the Republic of Uzbekistan, Ms. Rafedah Abd. Aziz; Rector of the Tashkent Chemical Technology Institute, Botir Shukurrullayev; and the General Director of the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), Ms. Belwinder Sron.
Honored guests at the conference included Professor He Dongping, Chairman of the China Cereals and Oilseeds Association (CCOA); Yang Zipeng, Deputy Chairman of CCOA and founder of HUATAI Group; Yadikar Ibragimov, Chairman of the National Association of Oilseed Processors of Kazakhstan; as well as heads of industry associations from Kyrgyzstan and representatives from international companies and scientific institutions.
During the first day, participants discussed several important topics, including issues of food security, opportunities for diversifying the Central Asian oil and fat industry, modern methods of vegetable oil processing, innovative solutions for the food industry, digitalization of production processes, sustainable development challenges in the sector, and expanding international investment cooperation.



