The Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) is once again inviting fellow palm oil producing countries to join common efforts to fight the black campaigns against palm oil in key consuming countries and also in international fora.
“Observer countries and other palm oil producing countries are invited to be part of these common efforts in key consuming countries as well as regional and international fora, including the United Nations bodies,” the CPOPC Secretariat said in a written statement sent to The Palm Scribe Thursday (8/10.)
The call was made during the 20th Senior Official Meeting (SOM) of the CPOPC that was held virtually on October 7, 2020 to discuss a number of issues, including initiatives and activities for smallholders, positive campaign on palm oil, research and studies, and sustainability issues.
“A global smallholder alliance should also be nurtured as a common platform to spearheading the overall interests of palm oil industry,” the statement continued, referring to the CPOPC’s “Smallholders Outreach Program,” under which a series of virtual meeting with representatives of smallholders from producing countries in three separate regions — Asia and the Pacific, Central and South America and Africa.
In his opening remarks, the Secretary General Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) of Malaysia, Mr. Ravi Muthayah aired his support for the initiative undertaken by CPOPC in forging a formidable co-operation and networking for the interest and betterment of the palm oil industry globally.
Musdalifah Machmud, who led the Indonesian delegation, meanwhile, conveyed her optimism and positive note of the upward trends of palm oil price globally despite concerns on overall global supply chain of various commodities due to the pandemic.
The meeting was also attended by representatives of palm oil producing countries in transition to full membership of the CPOPC — Colombia’s Vice Minister of Agriculture Juan Gonzalo Botero, High Commissioner of the Republic of Ghana to Malaysia Akua Sekyiwa Ahenkora, and Hondurian Vice Minister of Agriculture, David Ernesto Wainwright. Members of delegations representing relevant government institutions and stakeholders of the five palm oil producing countries also attended the meeting.
In their remarks, the representatives of observer countries underscored their readiness to work together in promoting the common interests of palm oil producing countries through CPOPC.
The Meeting also decided to hold the 8th Ministerial Meeting (MM) of CPOPC in November back to back with the Indonesia Malaysia CEO Forum (IMCEOF).
The IMCEOF would offer an opportunity for the prominent captains of the industry to deliberate on the way forward to bring the palm oil sector to a greater height, including addressing issues in relation to sustainability, trade and other future strategic priorities.