PALMOILMAGAZINE, MEDAN — The visit of European Union Ambassador to Indonesia, Denis Chaibi, to PTPN IV PalmCo’s oil palm plantation in Medan on Tuesday (October 7, 2025) carried a significant message: palm oil is no longer a source of trade tension but a platform for green cooperation between Indonesia and Europe.
During the visit, Ambassador Chaibi expressed strong appreciation for PalmCo, praising the company as a model for compliance, sustainability, and global-minded business practices.
“I’m deeply impressed by PalmCo’s commitment to the three key pillars: product downstreaming, renewable energy development, and smallholder empowerment,” Chaibi said, as quoted by Palmoilmagazine.com from Radarindo on Sunday (October 12, 2025).
Also Read:
More than mere appreciation, his statement signals a shift in Europe’s approach toward Indonesia’s palm oil industry. Once seen as a point of contention over environmental concerns, palm oil is now becoming an arena for tangible collaboration, particularly in downstream industries and clean energy.
One such collaboration involves European companies like Unilever, which uses PalmCo’s palm oil to produce high-value fatty acid derivatives. “This demonstrates how palm oil downstreaming can enhance value creation while strengthening a sustainable supply chain,” Chaibi noted.
The EU’s interest also extends to PalmCo’s renewable energy initiatives, such as Compressed Biogas (CBG) and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) projects, both aligned with the global green energy transition.
“We welcome PalmCo’s innovations in green energy, including hydrogen use — a key part of the EU’s clean energy strategy,” added Chaibi.
However, beyond technology and large-scale investment, the Ambassador highlighted a crucial point: smallholder welfare must remain the cornerstone of sustainability.
Chaibi commended PalmCo’s efforts to empower and mentor smallholders, calling it a model worth replicating. “Smallholders’ readiness to comply with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) will determine the future of Indonesia’s palm oil exports to Europe — and PalmCo plays a vital role in that process,” he emphasized.
PTPN IV PalmCo’s President Director, Jatmiko Santosa, welcomed the EU’s support, explaining that PalmCo now manages 618,000 hectares of palm plantations and leads several National Strategic Projects in food downstreaming, renewable energy, and smallholder replanting (PSR).
“Our vision is to make palm oil not just a commodity, but a solution for food, energy, and the environment,” Jatmiko stated.
PalmCo has earned various international certifications and global ESG ratings, strengthening its reputation as a palm oil company that meets high sustainability standards. The company also continues to educate the public with scientific data to correct misconceptions about palm oil.
“Palm oil is the most efficient crop for carbon absorption and delivers immense socio-economic benefits for local communities. It is a blessing for Indonesia — and it is our shared duty to protect it,” Jatmiko concluded. (P2)
