Plantations et Huileries du Congo (PHC), the leading industrial palm oil producer in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), was a key participant of this year’s 30th Senior Official Meeting (SOM30) of the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC), held on 16 December 2025 at the InterContinental Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
This high-level meeting brought together senior technical and institutional officials from CPOPC member countries, notably Indonesia, Malaysia, Honduras, Papua New Guinea and other major palm oil producing nations, with an aim to strengthen coordination, cooperation, and alignment among producing countries in addressing global challenges facing the palm oil sector.
PHC, a Key Player in International Palm Oil
Lead by PHC’s Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Monique Gieskes, the company’s participation reflects its central role in the palm oil value chain in the DRC and its commitment to actively contributing to international discussions on the future of the sector. PHC engaged as a company committed to sustainable, responsible, and inclusive production, in line with international standards on sustainability, governance, and social impact.
“Our participation in the Senior Official Meeting of the CPOPC forms part of a broader effort to consolidate PHC’s role as a leading agro-industrial player in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It has also contributed to strengthening the visibility of the DRC within international palm oil institutions, while highlighting the efforts undertaken in sustainability, governance, and sector transformation. PHC is honored to have contributed to these strategic exchanges,” said Mrs. Monique Gieskes.
The Senior Official Meeting represents a key component of CPOPC’s governance framework. It enables senior officials from member countries to review the progress of the organization’s activities, exchange views on global palm oil market outlooks, identify investment opportunities, and define future strategic priorities, particularly in the areas of sustainability, innovation, technical cooperation, and sector governance.
This meeting of senior industry and institutional leaders was preceded by the 13th Ministerial Meeting (MM13) of the CPOPC, during which the Democratic Republic of the Congo was officially represented by Mr. Josue Nzangi Kambale, Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The discussions held at the SOM30 served to inform the ministerial deliberations and prepare strategic decisions affecting all member countries.
“The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s participation in the work of the CPOPC marks an important step in strengthening our country’s engagement in international palm oil governance. Through this process, the DRC is reinforcing its commitment to sustainable production, responsible investment, and the integration of smallholders into value chains. The official accession of the DRC to the CPOPC opens new opportunities for technical cooperation, capacity building, and investment partnerships that will contribute to the long-term development of the agricultural sector and to national economic growth,” said Mr. Josué Nzangi Kambale, Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security.
PHC’s presence at this preparatory stage illustrates the collaboration between public and private stakeholders in structuring and driving the sustainable transformation of the palm oil sector. It also highlights PHC’s role in supporting the international positioning of the DRC within CPOPC platforms.
A Reignited Momentum Following the DRC’s Accession to CPOPC
PHC’s participation is pegged on the recent accession of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the CPOPC. This integration enables the country to fully engage in international discussions related to sector governance, sustainability, agricultural innovation, and growth prospects for the palm oil industry.
Since the accession, two major initiatives have been successfully implemented with PHC’s facilitation. A CPOPC technical mission was conducted in the DRC to support the Ministry of Agriculture in aligning the national palm oil strategy with international standards. Additionally, a training program on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) was organized in Yaligimba and delivered by CPOPC experts for the benefit of smallholder farmers.
By taking part in this high-level meeting, PHC reaffirms its commitment to supporting the positioning of the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a credible, responsible, and fully engaged player in the sustainable development of the palm oil sector, both at the regional and international levels, while contributing immensely to the country’s economic and social development.
About PHC
Plantations et Huileries du Congo (PHC) is the leading agro-industrial palm oil company in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Operating in the provinces of Tshopo, Mongala, and Equateur, PHC is committed to sustainable, responsible, and inclusive production for the benefit of local communities and the national economy.
Since 2020, with the support of Kuramo Capital Management, PHC has undertaken a profound transformation of its operations and social impact, driven by a fully Congolese management team. The company has notably tripled its palm oil production, significantly reduced operational costs, increased its workforce to more than 10,900 employees making PHC the largest private employer in the DRC and strengthened women’s representation within its workforce.
PHC also manages an extensive network of social infrastructure, including hospitals, health centers, and schools, and invests sustainably in employee training through the PHC Academy, thereby contributing to human capital development and the competitiveness of the Congolese agricultural sector.
