The Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) recently signed an agreement with the Expo Area administrative bureau of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone Administration to set up operations in the New Bund Global Economic Organization Cluster in Shanghai's Pudong New Area, making it the 24th international economic organization to establish a presence in the area.

Established in 1990, the MPOC is affiliated to the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities of Malaysia. It is responsible for positioning Malaysia as a global leader in certified sustainable palm oil.

Logo of the MPOC. [Photo/WeChat ID: expoareanews]

Palm oil is a key commodity in the global bulk agricultural product trade, and its trade rules, sustainable standards and supply chain management models have a significant impact on the global market.

As a core rule maker and standard promoter in the palm oil field, the MPOC's presence in the Expo Area is a testament to the region's status as the core bearing area of international economic organizations and a hub for bulk commodity elements.

The move not only accelerated the development of the Ecological Integration Zone for the International Trade of Bulk Commodities in the Expo Area but also strengthened Pudong's key role in the allocation of global resources.

Since the beginning of 2025, the New Bund cluster has successfully attracted five new organizations, including the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineering, the Advanced Medical Technology Association, and the Drug Information Association. The number of organizations with a presence in the cluster has reached 24, accounting for 50 percent of Pudong's total.

The Expo Area is a hub for international economic organizations in Shanghai. [Photo/WeChat ID: expoareanews]