VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Several members of the House of Representatives said that the palm oil commodity holds strategic value as a source of foreign exchange and to support the national economy.

Deputy Chairman of Commission IV of the DPR, Hasan Aminuddin, in a statement on Wednesday, said that the export value of palm oil products, including oleochemicals and biodiesel, reached around the US $20 billion in 2019.

The exports of palm oil and its derivative products contributed to the country's better trade balance.

"Indonesia must be grateful to have an extraordinary gift from God in the form of profuse palm oil, which is a source of foreign exchange and supports the national economy," he remarked.

Aminuddin noted that palm oil plantations, usually in remote areas, with poor infrastructure, could drive development in such areas to become economic centers.

He expects the role of palm oil to become increasingly important, especially as it pertains to the increasing demand for support for sustainable food and energy supply.

Seconding this view, a member of the House's Commission IV Luluk Nur Hamidah stated that palm oil has become a strategic commodity owing to its enormous contribution, both to open up job opportunities and foreign exchange for the country.

The lawmaker regretted the black campaigns on palm oil imposed by the international community.

"European countries, which are export destinations, are doing this. Yes, there are economic interests that are deliberately designed with environmental issues in mind," Hamidah noted.

The international community aggressively black campaigning with an approach that seemed scientifically acceptable that products from palm oil were detrimental to health and environmental issues.

Hamidah cited as an example of the use of research approaches, for instance, products from palm oil being viewed as having saturated fats unhealthy for the heart.

"They reject palm oil because it does not support a healthy lifestyle. The second point concerns environmental issues. Hence, we are being caught from both ends, in terms of health and environmental issues," Hamidah stated.

Hamidah called on the government to counter black campaigns through concrete steps taken properly, such as supervision and guidance, to prevent environmental damage caused to palm oil plantations. (Antaranews)