General Secretary of the Oil Palm Industry Corporation (OPIC), Mr. Kepson Pupita, has outlined an ambitious plan to institutionalize Papua New Guinea’s oil palm sector through a new legislative framework aimed at transforming the industry into a fully-fledged regulatory and development authority.
Speaking during an interview today, Pupita said the proposed reforms are designed to strengthen governance, improve coordination, and unlock the sector’s full economic potential.
The announcement follows the launch of the country’s first-ever Oil Palm Policy 2025–2030 last year. Building on that milestone, Pupita today unveiled OPIC’s inaugural Oil Palm Annual Performance Report at the corporation’s headquarters in Port Moresby.
He noted that for more than three decades, OPIC has served as the lead implementing agency, playing a critical role in translating policy into tangible economic benefits for smallholder farmers, customary landowners, and industry stakeholders.
“Our goal is to build a strong and sustainable institution that will actively contribute to Papua New Guinea’s Vision 2050, in alignment with the Medium Term Development Plan IV,” Pupita said.
According to the report, the oil palm industry generated approximately K3 billion in revenue in 2025. Pupita expressed confidence that, under his leadership, the sector can achieve significantly higher returns in 2026.
He also highlighted the need for PNG to remain competitive, noting that countries such as Malaysia and Singapore are producing oil palm at much larger scales, despite entering the industry later than Papua New Guinea.
Pupita reaffirmed his commitment to driving reform and growth within the sector.
“I am fully committed to elevating the oil palm industry to ensure it delivers maximum benefits to all stakeholders while generating substantial revenue for the country,” he said.