The Ambassador of Pakistan, Zahoor Ahmed, signed last Friday the Instrument of Accession for his country’s full membership in the International Olive Council (IOC), at its headquarters in Madrid. The Executive Director of the International Olive Council, Jaime Lillo, was also present on the occasion.
According to a statement from the Pakistani Embassy, “Pakistan’s accession to the IOC marks an important milestone in the country’s efforts to promote olive cultivation, strengthen its olive oil sector, and benefit from international expertise, research, technical cooperation, and best practices in the olive oil industry.”
Last year, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Food Security and National Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, led the Pakistani delegation to the 122nd session of the IOC Members’ Council, held in the Spanish town of Córdoba, where Pakistan participated as an observer. During the session, he presented his candidacy to be a member of the IOC and, according to the statement, “highlighted the country’s growing potential in olive cultivation and olive oil production. This year, Pakistan is expected to participate as a full member in the 123rd Members’ Council in June 2026.”
In his speech, Ambassador Zahoor Ahmed highlighted Pakistan’s growth potential in olive production, “leveraging its suitable climate, the expansion of cultivation areas, and ongoing national initiatives to develop the sector.” He stated that Pakistan’s full membership in the IOC would open new avenues for cooperation in capacity building, quality standards, research, technology transfer, and market development.
For his part, Jaime Lillo expressed his confidence that Pakistan’s accession “would further strengthen cooperation with the IOC and support the development of the Pakistani olive sector.”
The signed instrument of accession will be deposited with the United Nations Treaty Section, thus concluding the formal treaty signing process for Pakistan’s admission as a member of the International Olive Council.
The International Olive Council, based in Madrid, is the world’s leading intergovernmental organization in the field of olives and olive oil. “Pakistan’s membership, concludes the Embassy’s note, will help strengthen its commitment to global partners and support the development of the country’s olive value chain.”
