Press Release
Indonesian Palm Oil Association (IPOA)
VP Ma’ruf: Replanting Key To Future Food and Energy Resilience
Jakarta – Vice President Ma’ruf Amin said that the rising global need of palm oil for production of various products, along with the growth of the global population amid the rising threat of global warming, has become a challenge and an opportunity for Indonesian palm oil industry. Under such condition, the replanting program for smallholders’ oil palm plantations (PSR) plays a key role to maintain the food resilience and the public welfare of Indonesia.
“I ask the related ministries and institutions to soon harmonize all regulations on the legal status of plantations in forest areas for the acceleration of the replanting program,” Vice President Ma’ruf Amin said during the inauguration ceremony of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association’s (GAPKI) new board of executives for the period of 2023- 2028 at the vice presidential palace in Jakarta on Wednesday, 12 April 2023.
Ma’ruf Amin has also underlined the importance of proving to the global community that Indonesian palm oil industry has implemented the sustainability principles with the certification program of Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO).
According to him, Indonesia is facing a growingly tougher challenge at the global market after becoming the world’s largest producer and exporter of palm oil in 2006 and it has been continually prevailing until now. The government, business players, smallholders and all stakeholders of the Indonesian palm oil industry should synergize and join forces to fight against the negative issues.
ISPO will raise competitiveness and support the national efforts to accelerate the reduction of carbon emissions from the Indonesian palm oil industry. “I hope business players will help the smallholders in getting the certification of Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO),” said Ma’ruf.
Regarding environmental aspect, Ma’ruf said that national oil palm plantation cover reached 16.38 million hectares which contribute CO2 absorption at 2.2 billion tons per year. Besides, the palm oil-based biodiesel production has reduced Indonesia’s reliance on oil fuels.
“The national palm oil industry has reduced the greenhouse gas emission at around 29.5 million tons of CO2 equivalent in 2022. It means, Indonesia’s palm oil industry contributes significantly in mitigating the climate change,” said Ma’ruf.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo reminded the importance of implementing good practices in the palm oil industry. He said that business players and smallholders should seriously pursue their partnerships in implementing programs like the PSR. In 2023, the government has targeted to replant 180,000 hectares of smallholders’ plantations in 21 provinces.
“If we don’t prioritize the PSR program now, we’ll lose our power in the palm oil industry in the future,” said Syahrul.
GAPKI Chairman Eddy Martono also underlined the importance of implementing the PSR program as the main focus of GAPKI program. Eddy is confident that the acceleration of PSR realization will fulfill the national food and energy needs and improve the public welfare in Indonesia and global society.
Based on data from GAPKI, Indonesia has become the world’s largest producer and exporter of palm oil, contributing 59% of total global production and 54% of total global exports, and also the world’s largest consumer, accounting for 11% of total global consumption. Considering the facts, the Indonesian palm oil industry has a very important role in fulfilling the global need and national need. But in dealing with the negative perception against Indonesian palm oil industry, all of the stakeholders–the government, companies, smallholders, academics and NGOs, should be solid in their synergy and should have a common perception in defending the palm oil.
“A strong synergy is needed in dealing with the global market challenges. We need to pursue certain strategies and approaches with concerted and coordinated efforts to eliminate the negative perceptions of the global community on the operation of Indonesian palm oil industry,” said Eddy Martono.
The GAPKI’s board of executives is manned by 79 people, consisting of chairman, deputy chairman, secretary general, deputy secretary general, treasurer, deputy treasurer, heads of divisions and compartments, advisory council, supervisory board, and expert council. GAPKI has also set up new branch office in Papua, which is expected to help develop the economy of Papua through development of palm oil industry.
On development of palm oil industry at remote areas, Ma’ruf Amin expressed his appreciation on GAPKI’s pioneering efforts in developing the remote areas. “We hope GAPKI will continue pursuing such efforts. Empowering the people is very important in realizing the public welfare,” he said.
The GAPKI’s new board of executives for the period of 2023 – 2028 was installed by Joko Supriyono, who represented GAPKI Advisory Council and was witnessed by Vice President Ma’ruf Amin and Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo at the vice presidential palace in Jakarta on Wednesday, 12 April 2023. (*)
