Jakarta, (ANTARA News) - The German government supports the development of Indonesia`s sustainable palm oil which refers to the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) mechanism.

In a statement received by Antara here Thursday, the Director General of Plantation at Ministry of Agriculture, Bambang, hoped the German government would support Indonesia`s efforts to carry out sustainable palm oil and recognize the ISPO certification.

"With technology owned by Germany, we hope that the German government will support the palm oil waste process to increase farmers` income," he said.

Earlier, the Director General of Forestry, Sustainability and Renewable Resources at the German Ministry of Agriculture, Clemens Neumann, visited the Directorate General of Plantation Office in Jakarta on November 13 to discuss oil palm plantations.

Data shows that as of September 2018 Indonesia`s palm oil exports to Germany reached 105.9 million kilograms, with a value of US$72.7 million.

Neumann expressed high appreciation to the Indonesian government for its efforts to applyi sustainable palm oil management.

"We are interested to help because Indonesia is highly concerned about renewable and natural resource-based development, both as energy and industrial raw materials," Neumann said.

Previously, Neumann and his team have visited several oil palm companies which have secured ISPO certification in Kapuas Hulu District, West Kalimantan Province, especially the ones located in the Sentarum National Park.

The German government provides grants and technical assistance to help people live in Sentarum in preserving the environment.

The assistance is also expected to increase the ability of the locals in producing rubber and oil palm.

Currently, there are 413 ISPO certificates and 407 company certificates have been issued. There have been also six certificates issued for farmers, consisting of one farmer association, and five Rural Cooperatives (KUD) with a total oil palm plantation area reaching 2.34 million hectares and CPO volume of 10.2 million tons/year.



Reporting by Muhammad Razi Rahman
Editing by Libertina W Ambari


Reporter: Antara
Editor: Suharto
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