The Ministers responsible for the palm oil industry from Malaysia, Her Excellency Mdm. Teresa Kok, Minister of Primary Industries of Malaysia, and His Excellency Mr. Darmin Nasution, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia co-chaired the 7th Ministerial Meeting of Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 16 July 2019. The Meeting was also attended by Colombia, represented by His Excellency Mr. Mauricio Gonzalez Lopez, Ambassador of Colombia to Malaysia, in its capacity as an observer state.
The Ministers welcomed the newly appointed CPOPC Secretariat Members for the period of 2019-2022, headed by YBhg. Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Yusof Basiron as Executive Director, Mr. Dupito D. Simamora, Deputy Executive Director, Mr. Mohammad Jaaffar Ahmad, Director of Strategy and Policy, and Dr. Witjaksana Darmosarkoro, Director of Sustainability and Smallholders Development. The Ministers also expressed their appreciation for the excellent services of Mr. Mahendra Siregar as the Executive Director and Prof. Datuk Makhdzir Mardan as Deputy Executive Director from 2017-2019.
The Meeting discussed a number of issues related to the palm oil industry, including international trade policies and market access, business and smallholder engagements, and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Ministers expressed regret that the Delegated Regulation has entered into force on 10th June 2019. This is despite the various efforts undertaken by producing countries to provide information on the sustainability initiatives. During the Joint Ministerial Mission of the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries in Brussels, Belgium, 8-9 April 2019, the Delegation posed a strong position over the draft Delegated Regulation and expressed their grave concern to the EU leaders.
Both Malaysia and Indonesia informed that their Governments are currently reviewing their relationship with the European Union and its Member States, and are committed to challenge the Delegated Act through the WTO Dispute Settlement Body and other possible avenues.
(Selengkapnya dapat di baca di Majalah Sawit Indonesia Edisi 93, 15 Juli – 15 Agustus 2019)