SPEECH BY
YAB DATO’ SRI HAJI FADILLAH BIN HAJI YUSOF
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND
MINISTER OF PLANTATION AND COMMODITIES
GERMINATED SEED SENDING OFF CEREMONY TO HONDURAS
20TH MARCH 2023
ONLINE

OPENING REMARKS

Ladies and gentlemen, friends and colleagues,

Salam Sejahtera and a very good morning to all of you.

1) It is a great pleasure to be here this morning to witness the shipment ceremony for the oil palm seed donation to Honduras. As you may know, many Honduran smallholders were affected by the 2020 hurricane that caused much damage and losses to thecommunity. The Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) has therefore agreed to donate oil palm germinated
seeds (GS) to Honduras to support the smallholders.

2) I am pleased that the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities, Malaysia as a member of CPOPC, is also contributing to this initiative in helping the local farmers there. Being a part of the
global palm oil industry, we fully understand the importance of smallholders in the economic growth and social resilience of a country. In Malaysia, the palm oil industry remains a flagship sector of the country’s economic development, with a significant contribution to the national Gross Domestic Product. Over the years, this industry has also generated hundreds of thousands of employment opportunities and uplifted the livelihoods of many in Malaysia, especially the smallholders. It is indeed a very important sector for the nation. Hence, drawing from our own experience, I believe the initiative today is the right step towards nation building and prosperity creation for Honduras in the long run, and I am delighted to see the support we receive today.

Ladies and gentlemen,

3) I believe that today’s ceremony is not just about the oil palm seed donation, but it also signifies close cooperation among palm oil producing countries globally. CPOPC has proven its important role in the development of palm oil sectors at the international level. This also proves that we recognize Honduras as an important ally of CPOPC, more so since the country is in the process of becoming a full member of the Council. It is only right for us to extend the help that they need with the germinated seeds, and I hope this will foster stronger ties between the member countries moving forward.

4) I would also like to acknowledge and congratulate our partners who have made this donation possible, including the government of Indonesia, the companies that have participated in this effort, and government authorities that have supported us. All the assistance and support given are a testament to what we can achieve when we come together with a shared vision and commitment to make a difference.

5) Finally, I wish Honduras a successful program, especially in the following process of distributing the donated seeds to the nurseries and plantations and the replanting process later.

6) Let me conclude my remarks by reaffirming our commitment to support Honduras in any way possible, and I hope this donation will go a long way in improving the lives of the farmers and their families there.

Thank you.