The Indonesian Association of Palm Oil Producer (GAPKI) will for the first time hold its annual conference, the 16th Indonesia Palm Oil Conference 2020 and Price Outlook 2021, virtually for two days early in December.
Mona Surya, Chairperson of the 16th IPOC 2020, told a virtual press conference that COVID-19 brought a change in lifestyle for all and imposed restrictions in physical interactions that have given rise to an increase in the use of communication technology.
“The show must go on, so, we have to hold this 16th IPOC with a concept that is adjusted to the conditions,” Surya said, adding “Therefore, IPOC will also be virtual and it would be arranged so as to make it as comfortable as possible for us all.”
The two-day conference that is taking the theme of “Palm Oil Industry in the New Normal Economy” will be held on December 2-3, 2020 and the second day will close with a session on Supply & Demand, Price Outlook 2021
Surya said that amid the challenges posed by the COVID-19 Pandemic, “we need an accurate strategy to maintain price stability and competitiveness in the uncertain situation such as now.”
GAPKI Chairman Joko Supriyanto, speaking at the same occasion said that “IPOC this time around is different, but although it it different, it is still important.” He said that the condition of the market, in time of pandemic was different than usual and the market was experiencing some sort of “global demand distraction.”
The first day would be held from 9:30 to 16:45 while on the second day will start at 12:20 and end at 21:30.
The conference is scheduled to be attended by more than 1,000 participants from some 25 countries, including CEOs and Policy makers from Indonesia or overseas, and up until Friday, there was already a total of 850 participants registered.
Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto is scheduled to open the conference and give a keynote speech on policies in the palm oil industry post COVID-19 while on the second day Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan will give a special address on the post-pandemic investment climate in Indonesia.
Among the speakers are economist Chatib Basri, Bank Indonesia Senior Deputy Destry Damayanti, Vice Finance Minister Suahasil Nazara, President Director of the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS) Eddy Abdurrachman, Plantation Director general Kasdi Subagyono and Musdalifah Mahmud, Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture at the Coordinating Ministry for the Economy.
The list of foreign speakers included Cao Derong, from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, B.V. Mehta who is the executive director of the Association of Extractor Solvent India, PEORA Chairman Abdul Rasheed Jan from Pakistan, Abah Ofon the founder of 3XG UK Consulting Ltd and Pietro Paganini, from the John Cabot University in Rome.
As in the previous conferences, the list of expert speakers included Consili Agra Managing Director Emily French, Oil World Executive Director Thomas Milke, LMC international Ltd Chairman James Fry and Dorab Mistry, Director of Godrej International Ltd.