Papua New Guinea has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable palm oil development and strengthened cooperation with the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) during the 30th Senior Officials Meeting (SOM), held in Kuala Lumpur in a hybrid format.
Speaking at the meeting, General Secretary of the Oil Palm Industry Corporation (OPIC), Kepson K. Pupita, conveyed Papua New Guinea’s appreciation to CPOPC for its strong engagement and technical cooperation, particularly during September 2025 when the country celebrated its 50th Anniversary of Independence.
Mr Pupita acknowledged CPOPC’s support for the launch of Papua New Guinea’s first National Palm Oil Policy 2025–2030 on 10 September 2025, describing the policy as a major milestone for the sector.
“This policy provides a clear and structured framework to guide sustainable development, smallholder inclusion, regulatory reform, and international competitiveness,” he said. “CPOPC’s presence at this historic event was both timely and highly valued.”
He also highlighted CPOPC’s contribution to the International Smallholder Workshop and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) training, which benefited more than 20 national extension officers. Mr Pupita noted that smallholders form the backbone of Papua New Guinea’s palm oil industry, and strengthening extension capacity is critical to improving productivity, sustainability, and rural livelihoods.
The OPIC General Secretary further acknowledged CPOPC’s technical advice and policy discussions on oil palm development within Special Economic Zones, saying these engagements provided valuable insights as Papua New Guinea explores downstream processing, value addition, and industry diversification in line with national development goals.
According to Mr Pupita, CPOPC’s involvement in three key programme activities during September 2025 made a significant contribution to Papua New Guinea’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, demonstrating strong partnership and solidarity from CPOPC and its Member Countries.
Papua New Guinea also welcomed the invitation to attend the 21st International Palm Oil Conference in Colombia scheduled for 21 September 2025, as well as participation in a side meeting at the World Bank Annual General Meeting, including the seminar titled “Plantation 360 – Unlocking Jobs, Innovation, and Climate-Smart Growth.”
Mr Pupita said these initiatives align closely with Papua New Guinea’s development priorities, particularly job creation, innovation, and climate-resilient agriculture.
As a new member of CPOPC, Papua New Guinea reiterated its commitment to learning from more experienced Member Countries and contributing constructively to the organisation.
“We see CPOPC as an important platform for technical learning, policy alignment, and collective advocacy,” Mr Pupita said. “We remain committed to strengthening this partnership for the benefit of our people, our smallholders, and the global palm oil community.”
He concluded by thanking the CPOPC Chair, Secretariat, and Member Countries for their continued support and cooperation, and expressed optimism for deeper collaboration in the years ahead.