REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, NUSA DUA -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) opened the 14th Indonesian Palm Oil Conference (IPOC) and 2019 Price Outlook held in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Monday. He called on stakeholders to increase palm oil production.

"That is why, since last year, I had been conveying the importance of replanting; it is a must," Jokowi stated.

The head of state called on stakeholders to benefit from advanced technology for sustainable palm oil industry. The technology would allow palm oil farmers to increase their productivity, he noted.

Jokowi urged his aides to issue land ownership certificate for farmers' oil palm plantation. "As long as it (the land) is not in dispute, give them the certificate."

However, the president also reminded farmers to preserve the environment. Business operators would need to find non-traditional markets in order to increase palm oil export, he added.

"I think we have a huge potential for the state to derive foreign exchange," the president remarked.

He also pointed out the need to focus on palm oil industrialization. "Industrialization, especially on exported product, should be paid attention to, and thus, we can export well-packaged finished goods."

Also read: Mandatory use of biodiesel must be implemented soon: Jokowi

The latest issue on palm oil industry has been related to the acceleration of B20 biofuel requirements that is yet to be implemented maximally. "Why should we import fuel oil if we can use palm oil in mixed-fuel biodiesel," Jokowi noted.

The use of palm oil in the mixed-fuel oil would increase the commodity's price, he pointed out.

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