PRESS RELEASE: 22nd SENIOR OFFICIALS MEETING OF CPOPC

1. The 22nd Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) of the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) on Thursday, 21 October 2021, was held in a hybrid format at Hotel Mulia in Jakarta and online. The main objective of the meeting is to review and evaluate the Council’s key accomplished activities as well as to formulate important steps to further strengthen cooperation among CPOPC member countries.
2. The meeting was chaired by Hon. Dr. Musdhalifah Machmud, Deputy Minister for Food and Agribusiness, Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs for the Republic of Indonesia and co-chaired by Hon. Datuk Ravi Muthayah, Secretary - General, Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities of Malaysia.
3. The Meeting was also attended by the representatives of CPOPC observer countries, namely Colombia, Ghana, Honduras and Papua New Guinea.
4. In her opening remarks, Hon. Dr. Musdhalifah Machmud, underlined the positive trend of the growing demand of palm oil and the general upward trend of palm oil. However, the producing countries anticipate the possibility of cycle CPO price through increasing domestic consumption as part of the demand management tools. The management of sustainable palm oil price could be attained by the implementation of biodiesel program. Furthermore, she noted with deep concern of the increasingly massive negative campaign and the issuance of various policies and regulations that hampers the production and trade of palm oil especially in the European Union. In that regard, CPOPC needs to give serious attention and formulate more effective strategy for palm oil producing countries to address such challenges. Dr Musdhalifah also welcomed the progress made by the Scientific Committee as science-based studies and research should be further promoted in countering the negative campaigns against sustainable palm oil.
5. Datuk Ravi Muthayah in his opening statement welcomed the CPO price rally since June 2020 but noted with concern that the attacks towards palm oil are never ending. In that regard, he requested CPOPC to intensify its efforts in providing greater narrative to fight the negative campaigns. Furthermore, palm oil producing countries must not be complacent and be caught off guard by competitors. Upholding sustainability premised on SDGs is crucial, and CPOPC would undertake more offensive approaches by comparing palm oil with other vegetable oil. Datuk Ravi, in particular, expressed Malaysia’s strong support for the adoption of the Global Framework of Principles for Sustainable Palm Oil as a guiding principle to incoming member countries and as an example to other edible oil crops. To make our efforts and collaboration more impactful, meaningful and effective, he renewed his call for incoming members to expedite the process of joining CPOPC.
6. Honorable Mr. Juan Gonzalo Botero conveyed the importance of joining CPOPC to promote cooperation in research matters, production and commercialization of palm oil around the world. Her Excellency Akua Sekyiwa Ahenkora highlighted the merit to keep promoting the health benefits of palm oil, sustainability of the industry and its attribution to the UN SDGs and support for the capacity of smallholders. Honorable Mr. David Ernesto Wainwright expressed appreciation towards the support shown to Honduras through a donation of certified seeds by CPOPC. Honorable Mr. Kepson Pupita affirmed the feasibility of oil palm to transform the country’s economy especially in poverty reduction and productive engagement of the citizens.
7. The meeting has further deliberated on some key organizational and proposed program and activities by CPOPC Most of the priority programs that have been endorsed during this SOM are related to promoting palm oil sustainability, including efforts to build capacity of smallholder, research projects, and communication and advocacy programs.
8. Another highlight was the report on CPOPC Short Story Competition on Smallholders’ Life. The competition aims to bring more attention to smallholders’ struggle in managing their plantations and making a decent living for their families. The announcement of the winners will be made during the upcoming CPOPC Ministerial Meeting.
9. Further details of the forthcoming 9th Ministerial Meeting of CPOPC will be discussed during the meeting between Malaysia’s Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities with Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs that will be held this weekend.