Greetings from SOPPOA!
Dear Members,
I am truly honoured and thankful to have been elected as Chairman of SOPPOA for the 2025–2027 term. I sincerely appreciate the trust you have placed in me, and I look forward to working together as we continue to strengthen and grow Sarawak’s palm oil industry during this important period.
I would also like to express my heartfelt appreciation to Mr. Eric Kiu Kwong Seng, our immediate past Chairman, for his dedicated leadership over the past years. Under his guidance, SOPPOA deepened its engagement with government agencies, expanded its role in policy advocacy, and significantly raised the Association’s visibility at both the state and national levels. His steady leadership has built a strong foundation that we will continue to build on.
As I step into this role, I remain committed to working closely with the Council, Secretariat, and all our members to tackle challenges and drive the shared goal of building a responsible, sustainable, and commercially competitive palm oil industry in Sarawak. My leadership will focus on realistic and pragmatic approach to solve issues I believe is essential in today’s fast-evolving regulatory and business environment. SOPPOA must remain a voice of reason, guided by facts, operational experience, and constructive engagement.
Coming from an organized smallholder background and with experience in government-linked initiatives, I understand the importance of bridging the gap between private industry players and smallholders. Both groups are essential to the success and future of our industry.
As Chairman, I aim to strengthen collaboration across the entire supply chain—from estate to mill to market—so that our industry becomes more inclusive, efficient, and resilient. By improving integration, encouraging knowledge sharing, and supporting capacity building at every level, we can ensure that all players, big and small, benefit from a stronger and more transparent palm oil ecosystem.
JOSEPH BLANDOIChairman of SOPPOA
