Cooking Oil Sector: Meeting with palm oil companies in Tanintharyi

A meeting with palm oil companies in Tanintharyi Region was held on October 20 in Nay Pyi Taw.

At the meeting, U Min Naung, Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, stated that efforts must be planned to collaborate with investors interested in constructing the crude and refined oil mills required in Tanintharyi Region. He highlighted the need to assist smallholder farmers by linking them with major companies owning crude oil mills to establish contract farming systems for their mutual benefit.

Furthermore, he emphasized coordinating seamless cooperation through a Harmonized Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to advance the entire oil palm production value chain. He added that to develop the oil palm sector and boost the competitiveness of palm growers and producers, collaboration will be carried out with the Regional Government, oil palm entrepreneurs, and relevant departments to execute necessary governance for production enhancement, fair pricing, and quality improvement.

During the meeting, officials from the ministry and oil palm companies operating in Dawei, Myeik, Bokpyin, and Kawthaung districts discussed and presented status reports regarding land-use permit applications, plans to replant oil palm plantations damaged by various reasons, current crude-to-refined oil production capacity, and plans/requirements for establishing local oil refineries. In response, the Union Minister and the Deputy Minister reviewed and provided feedback on the presentations.