JAKARTA – President Prabowo Subianto has opened the opportunity for Indonesian oil palm growers to expand their plantation areas to meet the global growing need of vegetable oils, which are widely used as feedstocks to produce foods and energy products.
“I think in the future we have to increase our palm plantation areas. We should do it without fear of being accused of causing deforestation,” Prabowo said when addressing the national conference on development plan (Musrenbangnas RPJMN) 2025-2029, which was organized by the ministry of national development plan/national development planning board (PPN/Bappenas) in Jakarta on Monday (30/12/2024).
“The oil palm plants are trees, right?. They have leaves, absorb carbon dioxide. But why we’re accused of damaging the environment?,” he said.
President Prabowo stated that in expanding the oil palm plantations, Indonesia should not be worried about being accused of causing deforestation. “It’s wrong to accuse the oil palm trees as the cause of deforestation as the oil palm trees absorb carbon dioxide. We shouldn’t fear such accusation,” he said.
The president said that during his visits to foreign countries, many countries expressed their hope of getting certain commodities from Indonesia, including the palm oil. “Many countries need our palm oil and they hope Indonesia will provide it. It makes me think deeply. They really need palm oil from us. Apparently, the palm oil is a global strategic commodity. They are worried about the possibility of not getting the palm oil from Indonesia,” said Prabowo.
Prabowo also stated that he is not worried over the possibility of the European Union (EU) rejected Indonesian palm oil based on the EU deforestation-free regulation (EUDR) that will be implemented in 2026. “The EU will find themselves incurring losses as many industries there, including foods and cosmetic industries, are dependent on palm oil supplied from Indonesia.
“They will panic themselves when we don’t sell it there. All of their chocolate industries will be in chaos. In making chocolate they need palm oil. So does cosmetic industry and other industries,” Prabowo said.
During the occasion, he asked the regional governments and all security forces to maintain the sustainability of palm oil as national asset. “Please take care of our oil palm plantations as our national assets,” he said.
According to him, the palm plantations also play an important role to realize Indonesia’s self-sufficiency in foods and energy as a strong basis for the country’s sovereignty.
During the national conference, PPN Minister/Bappenas Chairman Rachmat Pambudy said that Indonesia set three main targets through its development plan during the next five years. The three main targets are reduction of poverty rate, increase of human resource quality, and achievement of high, equitable and sustainable economic growth. “We target an economic growth of up to 8.0 percent per year. For such goal we need collaboration and synergy with all stakeholders,” Minister Rachmat said. (*)
