Festival Indonesia in Oslo Presents Sustainable Palm Oil

In an efforts to convince the world of the sustainable palm oil, Indonesia organizes business meeting and seminar in several countries, including the one recently held in Oslo, Norway.

Festival Indonesia in Oslo Presents Sustainable Palm Oil

In an efforts to convince the world of the sustainable palm oil, Indonesia organizes business meeting and seminar in several countries, including the one recently held in Oslo, Norway.

As part of Festival Indonesia, a business seminar was held in Oslo, Friday (28/6/2019), to discuss palm oil contribution in achieving the the UN’s agenda Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

A seminar was held to examine a highly topical theme “Sustainable Peat Land and Palm Oil Contribution Toward the Achievement the UN SDGs”. President Director of the Indonesia Oil Palm Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS) Dono Boestami delivered an interesting presentation on how important palm oil is and its contribution to economic benefits as well as to achieve the UN’s SDGs.

“Palm oil sector contribute to the achievement of SDGs in Indonesia. It supports the reduction of poverty and inequality, supports national energy security by increasing renewable and clean energy use, as well as supports food provision and fortification.”

Besides, palm oil sector contributes to climate action. It plays significant role in the development of renewable energy and emission reduction as well as supports the moratorium of primary forest and the prevention management of forest fire.

Dono also said that palm oil sector has contributed to economic benefits such as government revenues, support millions of jobs, and also save foreign exchanges. Indonesia palm oil industry and corporation also support Partnerships for the Goals by establishing partnership between Government, Private Sector, and Community to address issues such as health, education and basic infrastructure. 

Indonesian Ambassador in Oslo Todung Mulya Lubis said that the seminar was structured to be strictly about sustainable palm oil industry and peat land restoration issue in Indonesia. The seminar which attracted 200 Norwegian business leaders and representatives also had a presence of speakers: Chairman of the Indonesia’s Peat land Restoration Agency (BRG) Nazir Foead; Profesor at IPB Prof. Yanto Santosa; and Special Advisor for Finance and Deforestation, Rainforest Foundation Norway Vemund Olsen. A business session was also held which had a presence of speakers: Chairman of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (Gapki) Togar Sitanggang, CEO 1st of Norway Kristine Vergli Grant-Carlsen, Manager Corporate Communication of Nestle Norway Axel Heiberg-Andersen, dan Professor at John Cabot University Prof. Pietro Paganini. 

Speaking the opening session, Marit Vea, Political Adviser to the Ministry of the Climate and Environment of Norway, praised Indonesia for successful attempt to stop deforestation and for implementing sustainable palm oil.  

The seminar also offered a meeting between business leaders with Indonesian palm oil stakeholders in order to build strong relationship. The Festival Indonesia was the first of its kind held in Norway and considered to be the biggest one in Nordics. This event is aimed to promote Indonesia’s cultural diversity as well as to strengthen diplomatic relationship between Indonesia and Norway. (Source: KBRI Oslo)