DENPASAR, Bali (BPN) – Palm oil is still the largest export commodity in Indonesia and contributes the biggest revenue from the non-oil and gas sector. Currently, the palm oil industry absorbs 16.2 million workers from upstream to downstream.
This was revealed at the Bali Amazing Race Sawit (palm) Hunt 2019 event, in Denpasar, on Saturday. This event is also used to explain and ward off negative issues that are often associated with the palm oil industry.
According to the Spokesperson of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI) Tofan Mahdi, the oil palm industry is currently facing challenges in reputation, especially among millennials whose perception of the industry is still negative.
“We want to invite the younger generation to understand because palm oil is currently the largest contributor to Indonesia’s foreign exchange. Even now it has been developed for biofuels. If this can be developed, Indonesia can be fuel independent and no longer depend on fossil fuels,” he said.
Achmad Maulizal Sutawijaya, representative of the Indonesian Oil Palm Estate Fund (BPDP KS) explained that oil palm and its derivatives have become part of people’s daily lives.
“The benefits of palm products and its derivatives have been well received by the community. Such beauty products are inseparable from palm oil, also quality food products, as well as renewable energy,” he said.
According to Achmad Maulizal Sutawijaya, products that use palm oil such as cooking oil, margarine, butter, and instant noodles. While beauty products and cosmetics are in the form of lipstick, shampoo, and soap. And the renewable energy produced from palm oil is in the form of biodiesel.
“Millennial is a market and resource that has great potential for Indonesia now and in the future. Thus, it is important to educate millennials about the potential and benefits of oil palm,” he explained.
Amazing Race Palm Sawit 2019 is a series of communication activities in the form of a talk show with the millennial generation in Indonesia involving oil palm industries. Previous activities had been carried out in Jakarta, Bogor, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, and Makassar.
In addition to the talk show, around 200 students from several universities in Bali also took part in other interesting activities such as fun games and Instagram photo contests.
