By GEORGINA MICHAEL
The oil palm industry corporation held its second regional validation workshop on the proposed oil palm Management Bill 2025 and the Oil palm Authority Bill 2025 in Kokopo last week.
The validation program was witnessed by the Governor of East New Britain, Mr. Michael Marum, the minister for oil palm Mr. Francis Galia Manake, the Chief secretary of OPIC Mr. Kepson Pupita, government stakeholders, milling companies and the local oil palm growers.
This was the second regional validation program led by the technical team across the oil palm growing regions following the first one held in Lae representing the Momase region.
Governor Marum acknowledged the emergence of new industries such as the oil palm industry and the need for collaboration between the government industry partners and communities to ensure sustainable growth.
” Over time, new industries such as oil palm emerged, bringing opportunities for economic growth, employment and rural development, Marum said
I acknowledge and command the efforts of the Ministry of Oil Palm, partners, industry players, leaders and all stakeholders who continue to support the growth of this important sector.”
“Your contributions towards policy, development, technical support and Planning and Investment is helping to shape the future of the oil palm industry in PNG.”
During the validation program, the technical team presented incorporated feedback, concerns and feedback from the last consultation with oil palm growers, small block holders, milling companies and all the other stakeholders outlining legislation that will address most of the issues that were being raised by them.
According to the presentations, the Oil Palm Industry Authority Bill 2025 is meant to repeal the OPIC Act 1992 and transition it into a palm oil industry with government oversight over licensing, compliance and environmental standards.
The oil palm industry management bill 2025 sets the rules for the industry operations, pricing and a comprehensive licencing framework.
Following the presentations made, oil palm growers expressed concerns over the legislative process involved after the bills are submitted by OPIC to the first legislative council.
OPIC general secretary Mr. Pupita responded that while OPIC as the industry technocrat was mandated to draft the bills it was not their final authority in making the bills.
” The first legislative council is the institution legally mandated to develop these drafted laws into laws for the minister to be presented in the parliament,” Pupita responded
“Hence not every issue you have made mentioned and raised will be addressed as some of those are already captured in other existing legislations of our state agencies.”
This marked the final validation program in Kokopo; the bills are expected to be tabled in the parliament in the June sitting.