JAKARTA – The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) has warmly welcomed the decision of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to reopen the exports of crude palm oil (CPO) and cooking oil, saying that the policy will ensure the sustainable growth of palm oil industry in the country.
“We highly appreciate President Jokowi’s decision to lift the export ban. We hope that trading of palm oil products and derivatives will be flourishing again at domestic and export markets,” GAPKI Chairman Joko Supriyono told Kompas.com on Thursday.
According to him, all trade partners in Europe, India and Pakistan, have expressed their appreciation to President Jokowi for his decision to lift the export ban of CPO and cooking oil.
Joko said that GAPKI is committed to supporting the Indonesian government’s policy to provide bulk cooking oil at the required amount of supply and affordable price for the general public of Indonesia.
“GAPKI has been continually working hard to ensure that the palm oil industry that plays important role in the Indonesian economy will keep growing,” said Joko Supriyono.
President Jokowi had imposed the export bans of CPO and derivative products, and cooking oil since 28 April 2022 with the aim to ensure the supply at the local market. The reopening of the CPO and cooking oil exports will start from Monday, 23 May 2022.
“Based on the availability of supply and affordable price of cooking oil, and by considering that 17 million people—farmers, direct workers and supporting employees– rely on the palm oil industry, I’ve decided to reopen the exports of CPO and cooking oil, effective from Monday 23 May 2022,” said President Jokowi in his press statement published through the YouTube channel of the presidential secretariat on Thursday.
The President said that he and all of his teams will keep monitoring the market, and ensuring that cooking oil supply will be always available at affordable price at the local market. (*)
Source: KOMPAS.com