The Jakarta Post, 17 April 2018
In its latest bid to counter negative perceptions surrounding the palm oil industry in Indonesia, Jakarta has invited ambassadors and representatives from European Union member countries on a five-day excursion to plantation sites in Jambi so they can make their own observations. The Foreign Ministry Policy Analysis and Development Agency (BPPK), in collaboration with the Jambi regional administration, the Indonesian Oil Palm Estate Fund (BPDPKS) and Jambi University, has organized an “executive oil palm course” catering to the envoys this week. At least five ambassadors from the European bloc, including its ambassador to Indonesia, Vincent Guerend, as well as envoys from Poland, Austria, Ireland and Sweden and representatives from the embassies of Denmark, the United Kingdom, Netherlands and Germany, took part in the event. This is to show Indonesia’s best practices, as well as to present the scientific research on palm oil’s impact on the environment, BPPK Head Siswo Pramono said on Monday (April 16).
