PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA – The Agricultural Journalists Forum (Forum Wartawan Pertanian / Forwatan) along with three palm oil downstream associations – namely the Indonesian Biofuels Producers Association (APROBI), the Indonesian Vegetable Oil Industry Association (GIMNI), and the Indonesian Oleochemical Producers Association (APOLIN) – engaged in promotional and social initiatives during Ramadan 2024.
This effort served as evidence of palm oil’s significance and presence, with activities conducted throughout the month. Hundreds of religious students and orphans gained insights into the positive contributions of palm oil to the economy, society, and environment.
Sahat Sinaga, the Executive Director of GIMNI, underscored palm oil’s pivotal role as a vital commodity in fulfilling Indonesia’s food, energy, and oleochemical needs, especially during Ramadan and Idul Fitri 2024. Products derived from palm oil, such as soap, shampoo, and cooking oil, are irreplaceable. The growth of the palm oil industry is closely linked to downstream policies, which have led to an increase in the number of downstream products from 54 varieties in 2007 to 179 varieties in 2023.
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“Palm oil downstream products have become parts of the people’s lives in Indonesia both for food, energy and oleochemical needs, namely in Ramadhan and Idul Fitri 2024. Palm oil is mostly used and applied (to many products). Its position is difficult to be replaced by other vegetable oils,” Sinaga said, as in the official statement to Palmoilmagazine.com, Thursday (18/4/2024).
He also told palm oil products helps religion students to maintain the cleanliness, such as, soap, shampoo, and cloth detergent. Other palm oil downstream products, such as, palm cooking oil, and margarine were also used to produce foods.
To promote the goodness of palm oil products, Forwatan distributed helps to many religion students and orphan in Jakarta, Bogor, and Depok. Chairman of Forwatan, Yuwono Nugroho (Ibnu) told that the social acts happened for the supports of three palm oil downstream associations. The collaboration ran well for the past four years to help unfortunate people, religion students, and orphan.
Coordinator of Yayasan Al Mukhlisin Cibubur, Ustad Bambang Sundawa and Coordinator of Yayasan Nurul Huda, Ustad Yusuf did appreciate the helps from Forwatan and palm oil downstream associations and hoped that palm oil products would keep delivering advantages for the people of Indonesia.
General Secretary of APROBI, Ernest Gunawan also emphasized his support in the social acts by Forwatan. Through the positive palm oil promotion, including the roles of biodiesel, energy independence would always exist nationally.
Chairman of APOLIN, Norman Wibowo said that it is significant to get collaboration between palm oil downstream associations and media to fight for the bad and negative issues and information in this country. When Covid-19 stroke, palm oil was one significant material to produce sanitation and pharmacy products and it really helps the people of Indonesia. (T2)
