Malaysia plans 'orangutan diplomacy' to boost palm oil sales

Malaysia has said it plans to present orangutans to major palm-oil-importing countries with the aim of boosting its credentials as a conserver of biodiversity.

The Asian nation is the world's second-largest producer of the widely used commodity, whose production is blamed by environmentalists for fueling the destruction of the great ape's habitats in both Malaysia and Indonesia.

The move comes after the EU last year approved a ban on importing commodities, like palm oil, that are linked to deforestation. Malaysia said the ban has been introduced to protect the bloc's own oilseeds market.