Lisbon (GNP): Pakistan has officially become a Permanent Member of the International Olive Council (IOC), marking its first appearance in that capacity at the body’s 123rd Session held in Lisbon.
The Pakistani delegation was headed by Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research Rana Tanveer Hussain, who attended the UN-affiliated IOC meeting alongside Aisha Farooqui, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Portugal.
Pakistan formally became an IOC member in May 2026, and was subsequently invited to join the 123rd Council session along with 27 other olive oil-producing countries from around the world.
The country received a warm welcome from the IOC’s Executive Director, its Chairman, and representatives of fellow member states.
In his address, Minister Hussain thanked the Council and pledged Pakistan’s full support for advancing the IOC’s broader objectives. He also gave delegates an overview of Pakistan’s expanding olive industry, which now includes over 7 million trees planted across more than 55,000 acres, with olive farming clusters continuing to spread nationwide.
He described how Pakistan has built out a complete farm-to-fork supply chain, supported by 51 oil extraction facilities, modern processing infrastructure, nurseries, weather monitoring stations, and four quality-testing labs aligned with IOC standards. The country has also reached self-sufficiency in producing its own certified olive saplings — progress that helped earn Pakistan a Silver Award at last year’s New York International Olive Oil Competition.
Hussain said Pakistan intends to be an active, constructive partner in efforts to make the global olive oil and table olive industry more sustainable and resilient to climate change.
Lisbon is set to become the focal point for the international olive sector in late June, hosting three major events back to back: the IOC’s 123rd Council Session, its 66th Advisory Committee Meeting, and the second edition of the Olive Oil World Congress (OOWC). Plans for the gatherings were discussed in a meeting between IOC Executive Director Jaime Lillo and Portugal’s Minister of Agriculture and Maritime Affairs, José Manuel Fernandes. Hosted by the Portuguese government, the events will run from June 29 to July 1, 2026, drawing officials, companies, researchers, and industry professionals from across the olive value chain.
The Council Session — the IOC’s top decision-making body — will bring together delegates from the organization’s 48 member countries, which together represent roughly 95% of the world’s olive oil and table olive output. Discussions will cover key issues including product quality, sustainability, standardization, scientific research, climate impacts, international collaboration, and marketing efforts for olive products.
Ahead of the main session, the Advisory Committee Meeting will gather more than 60 stakeholders — producers, consumers, importers, exporters, and traders — to share insights, discuss market challenges, and look for new ways to strengthen the industry’s competitiveness.
A major highlight will be the second Olive Oil World Congress on July 1 in Lisbon. Building on the success of its first edition in Madrid back in 2024, this year’s congress will bring together global experts, research institutions, and major companies to explore topics like innovation, sustainability, emerging technology, product quality, and shifting consumer preferences.
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Organizers hope the event will deepen international cooperation across the olive value chain and help push the industry toward greater innovation and competitiveness.
By hosting all three events, Portugal is cementing its reputation as a key global venue for shaping the future of the olive oil industry, while Lisbon further establishes itself as the sector’s institutional and business hub for the occasion.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
