InfoSAWIT, KUALA LUMPUR — The Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) held its 30th Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Tuesday (December 16, 2025). The meeting was chaired by the Secretary-General of Malaysia’s Ministry of Plantation and Commodities, Dato’ Yusron Syah Mohd Yusof, and attended by representatives of member and observer countries.
Delegations from CPOPC member countries—Indonesia, Malaysia, Honduras, Papua New Guinea, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo—were present, along with observers from Colombia, Ghana, and Nigeria. Participants discussed recent developments and reviewed progress across CPOPC’s key areas of work.
In his opening remarks, Dato’ Yusron stressed the importance of maintaining unity and a clear strategic direction among palm oil-producing countries. He said strong, solution-oriented collaboration is essential to ensure palm oil continues to be recognised for its contribution to global food security, poverty alleviation, and sustainable development.
“Our cooperation must remain solid, strategic, and focused on solutions so that palm oil’s vital role for the world can continue to be strengthened,” Dato’ Yusron said, as quoted by InfoSAWIT from CPOPC on Friday (December 19, 2025).
Several strategic issues were highlighted during the meeting, including efforts to expand CPOPC membership to strengthen the collective position and voice of producing countries globally, as well as accelerating the implementation of the CPOPC Strategic Roadmap to build a more resilient and sustainable palm oil sector.
Senior officials also emphasised the importance of stronger advocacy and active engagement in key consumer markets. Challenges related to the implementation of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), particularly its impact on smallholders, were a major focus of discussion.
CPOPC also underlined the need to increase youth engagement in the palm oil sector as part of efforts to prepare future leadership that is adaptive and sustainability-oriented.
The 30th SOM concluded with a shared commitment to promote more practical cooperation, sustainable growth, and constructive global engagement, reaffirming CPOPC’s mandate to support its member countries and foster balanced, fact-based dialogue on the palm oil industry at the international level. (T2)
