GAPKI Appeals Government to Strengthen Diplomacy at Global Level

INDUSTRY.co.id - Jakarta - Chairman of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (Gapki), Joko Supriyono considers Indonesia should continue to strengthen diplomacy and communications of the palm oil sector at the global level.

"Until now, the negative campaign against oil palm in Indonesia is still ongoing and more massive. This condition of course inhibits the development of Indonesia's strategic commodities," said Joko in Jakarta (12/10/2017).

Joko explained, one of the negative campaigns is related to forestry issues such as deforestation, biodiversity, and accusations of palm oil industry that penetrated peat lands to cause forest fires.

According to Joko, allegations that the palm oil industry is the cause of forest fires, is not true at all. "The fires in America and Europe, he said, illustrate that the country so far that often on behalf of the world interest on the importance of protecting the environment, was experiencing forest fires as well," he said.

Joko ensures that the Indonesian oil palm sector meets the principles of sustainability. In fact, since 2014 the government requires all oil palm plantations in Indonesia certified Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO).

"And the government is currently strengthening the ISPO to be increasingly accepted internationally." Joko said.

As is known, palm oil exports rose 24 percent from 2.4 million tons in July 2017 to 2.98 million tons in August 2017. Meanwhile, during August 2017 the average price of global palm oil increased 2 percent or from US $ 662,50 per metric ton to $ 676 per metric ton, which moved in the range of US $ 652.50 - US $ 695 per metric ton.

Meanwhile, Indonesia's palm oil production in August 2017 only reached 3.95 million tons, up 5 percent compared to the previous month which only reached 3.75 million tons.