Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Datuk Razali Ibrahim launchig the National Patriotism Index at the National Patriotism Convention organised by National Civics Bureau at UTM, Jalan Semarak, Kuala Lumpur. Looking on is National Civics Bureau, Director General, Datuk Raja Arif bin Raja Ali (2nd from right) with other leaders. SAMUEL ONG / THE STAR, 14TH AUGUST 2014.
MUAR: The secretariat for the Council of Oil Palm Producing Countries (CPOPC) based in Jakarta, Indonesia, is expected to start operations by next month.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Razali Ibrahim said the agreement on this was reached between Malaysia and Indonesia at the CPOPC meeting in Jakarta on Feb 4.
"Two Malaysians will be named as head of the smallholders and stock manager divisions," he told reporters in Muar on Tuesday.
Two Indonesians will in turn manage the green economy zone and standards divisions, respectively, he added.
Razali, who is responsible for Felda, hoped that with the setting up of the CPOPC secretariat, more oil palm producing countries would be encouraged to participate in the grouping.
"It will help develop and strengthen cooperation within the oil palm industry of the member countries," he added.
At the Jakarta meeting, Malaysia and Indonesia also discussed the issue of France imposing an unreasonable tax on palm oil-based products in stages.
"Malaysia and Indonesia will object to this. The matter will also be brought to the attention of the cabinets of both countries first," Razali said.
He was also confident that the French government would be reasonable in addressing the issue.
On Jan 21 this year, the French Parliament passed a bill to impose a progressive oil palm import tax from 300 euros per tonne in 2017, 500 euros in 2018, 700 euros in 2019 and up to 900 euros per tonne.
Meanwhile, Razali said the impact or benefit from implementation of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement on the oil palm industry could not be determined as yet.
"We need to study how the trade pact can benefit the country's oil palm industry as a whole with two years to go before its full implementation," he added. - Bernama
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