In an effort to promote the sustainable development of Papua New Guinea’s palm oil industry and achieve a win-win outcome for economic growth and ecological protection, key stakeholders from the sector convened a roundtable meeting in Port Moresby on June 23.
The meeting was chaired by PNG’s Minister for Oil Palm, Hon. Francis Maneke, with the participation of Kepson Pupita, Secretary of the Oil Palm Industry Corporation (OPIC). A delegation from the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), led by Chief Executive Officer Joseph D’Cruz, also attended the meeting and held in-depth discussions with PNG officials.
The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between PNG and RSPO and steering the country’s palm oil sector towards a more environmentally friendly and sustainable path.
In his speech, Minister Maneke emphasized that the palm oil industry is one of PNG’s vital economic pillars, with significant potential to generate employment and drive community development. However, he acknowledged that balancing industry growth with forest conservation and ecological equilibrium has become an urgent priority.
The RSPO delegation presented its global practices and achievements in promoting sustainable palm oil, highlighting strategies to prevent deforestation, reduce carbon emissions, and improve community well-being. They called for the establishment of robust industry standards to guide companies toward responsible production.
Both sides reached a preliminary consensus on jointly promoting higher-level sustainability standards, ensuring the global competitiveness of PNG’s palm oil industry, and enabling the fruits of development to benefit grassroots communities.
The meeting is seen as a critical step forward in PNG’s transition to a greener, more inclusive, and sustainable palm oil sector, reflecting the nation’s proactive stance and commitment to global climate change and sustainable development agendas.
