CPOPC to hold ministerial mission to palm oil importing countries
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and Indonesia, the founding members of the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC), have agreed to hold a Ministerial Mission to major palm oil importing countries next year.
In a statement, the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) said this was the result of a bilateral discussion between its minister Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong and Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Darmin Nasution, held on Dec 22 in Jakarta.
“The ministers agreed that priority be accorded in inviting other palm oil producing countries such as Colombia, Brazil, Thailand and Papua New Guinea as this would help address the evolving international trade barriers to palm oil.
“These include anti-palm oil labelling on the grounds of nutritional and environmental concerns,” it said.
Furthermore, the ministers agreed to establish a private sector and smallholders’ forum to discuss and propose measures towards strengthening cooperation in the industry, including development of smallholders in both countries.
CPOPC is also tasked to spearhead the cooperation in promoting the benefits of palm oil to the world among its members and that the council be used as a joint platform for experience sharing on biodiesel mandate implementation.
“Other than that, the ministers has tasked the CPOPC Secretariat in Jakarta to strengthen its manpower so that the council will be more equipped to spearhead promotional activities related to palm oil,” it added. — Bernama