JAKARTA – The palm oil industry plays an important role in creating new centres of economic growth in Indonesia. Considering such role, the industry ministry (Kemenperin) will focus on implementation of palm oil down-streaming policy to increase added values of agricultural commodities in the country.

“The palm oil industries play an important role in generating national economic growth. We’ll focus on realizing it by implementing our policy of palm oil downstreaming,” Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said when opening virtually a national seminar on palm oil as part of Palm Oil Week Event 2024 on Tuesday (21/5/2024).

Featuring seminar, industrial meetings, bazaar, job fair, open house, science competition, and fun walk, the Palm Oil Week 2024 is held in Polytechnic ATI Padang, West Sumatera (Sumbar) and attended by around 1,000 participants.

According to the Minister, the palm oil industries can absorb the farmers’ agricultural production, improve the public welfare of independent oil palm smallholders, and increase state income from foreign exchange derived from palm oil exports.

He said that the growth of palm oil industries had also raised the need for quality human resources, including university graduates.

Meanwhile, the industry ministry’s industrial human resources development board (BPSDMI) Chairman Masrokhan said that the  program of palm oil downstreaming should be supported with the improvement of understanding and participation of young generation in the sustainable industry of palm oil. “Indonesia is the world’s largest producer and exporter of palm oil. Besides supporting national economy, the palm oil sector also plays an important role in realizing the net zero emission (NZE) in 2050,” said Masrokhan.

Masrokhan said the Palm Oil Week 2024, which is held in conjunction with the golden anniversary (50 years) of Polytechnic ATI Padang, is organized under a collaboration with the BPSDMI and the oil palm plantation fund management board (BPDPKS). (*)

Source: sawitkita.id