Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Central Sulawesi Sustainable Palm Oil Multi-Stakeholder Forum (FMPSB-Sulteng) was officially launched on Tuesday (July 21). The forum serves as a platform for communication, coordination, and collaboration among stakeholders to strengthen sustainable palm oil governance across Central Sulawesi Province.The forum was established through the collective efforts of local civil society organizations (CSOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to foster stronger collaboration among government institutions, the private sector, smallholder farmers, academia, civil society organizations, and development partners in accelerating improvements to sustainable palm oil governance in Central Sulawesi.Member of Commission III of the Central Sulawesi Provincial Regional House of Representatives (DPRD), H Musliman, emphasized that the forum should serve not only as a platform for exchanging ideas but also as a catalyst for tangible progress in the province.“We hope this forum will generate meaningful breakthroughs for the palm oil sector in Central Sulawesi. Collaboration among all stakeholders is the key, and together we can advance the sustainable development of the province’s palm oil industry,” he said.Palm oil is one of Indonesia’s largest foreign exchange-earning commodities, generating between US$20 billion and US$27.75 billion annually and accounting for approximately 12% of the country’s non-oil and gas exports. The industry contributes around 1.6% of Indonesia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), generates tens of trillions of rupiah in tax revenues, and provides direct employment to more than 4.5 million people.Echoing this view, Jen Kurnia Gembu, Head of the Legal Division at the Central Sulawesi Provincial Secretariat, expressed the Provincial Government’s support for the establishment of the forum. He described it as a strategic initiative to strengthen assistance in addressing challenges facing the palm oil sector while ensuring its long-term sustainability.According to him, the industry continues to face numerous challenges requiring support in regulatory compliance, governance, and the resolution of field-level issues. Strengthened collaboration among stakeholders through the forum will therefore be essential in developing sustainable solutions.“In principle, the Legal Bureau of the Central Sulawesi Provincial Secretariat fully supports the establishment of the Sustainable Palm Oil Multi-Stakeholder Forum. Many challenges remain in the palm oil sector that require coordinated assistance to ensure sustainable management,” Gembu said.He further noted that government leadership will play a critical role in coordinating stakeholders, ensuring legal certainty, and developing policies that support sustainable palm oil governance throughout the province.“The government’s role is essential in coordinating all stakeholders so that challenges can be addressed collaboratively while advancing sustainable palm oil development in Central Sulawesi,” he added.Professor Mohamad Ahlis Djirimu, an academic from Tadulako University (Untad) in Palu, emphasized that collaboration among all stakeholders is fundamental to achieving a sustainable palm oil industry.“What we need is stronger synergy among corporations, the provincial government, and district and municipal governments. Without collaboration, we will not be able to maximize the benefits of the palm oil industry,” he said.He also noted that downstream development of the palm oil industry in Central Sulawesi continues to face challenges because most processing facilities are located outside the province. As a result, transporting fresh fruit bunches (FFB) from several production areas becomes less efficient due to long transportation distances.As the world approaches the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) review, he stressed that palm oil development in Central Sulawesi must continue to uphold sustainability principles by protecting both workers and the environment.“Workers’ rights must be protected, including the right to organize. We must also promote inclusiveness, particularly by safeguarding the rights of women workers. Global expectations will increasingly focus on sustainability issues in the years ahead,” he added.Azmi Sirajudin, Executive Director of Ekonesia, stated that the establishment of the forum marks an important milestone in creating a collaborative platform capable of aligning diverse interests in the development of a sustainable palm oil sector in Central Sulawesi.“We expect this forum to become a common platform for strengthening communication, enhancing coordination, and fostering collaboration among all stakeholders so that palm oil governance in Central Sulawesi becomes more effective, sustainable, and beneficial for local communities,” Azmi said.He explained that the forum is also aligned with the Central Sulawesi Provincial Government’s vision of achieving prosperous, equitable, advanced, and sustainable development through its Nine BERANI development agenda, particularly the BERANI Makmur (Prosperity) mission.“The forum will perform several strategic functions, including serving as a facilitator to strengthen the capacity of independent smallholders in implementing sustainable agricultural practices, as well as acting as a mediator to facilitate dialogue and resolve disputes among stakeholders,” he explained.In addition, the forum will serve as a catalyst to encourage active stakeholder participation in sustainable palm oil management and as an accelerator to support the achievement of national strategic priorities, including the Smallholder Palm Oil Replanting Program (PSR), implementation of the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) standard, downstream industry development, and the transition toward deforestation-free, environmentally responsible, and human rights-respecting palm oil production.“Through this forum, we aim to ensure that every stakeholder has a platform for dialogue, joint problem-solving, and supporting the implementation of sustainable palm oil practices in Central Sulawesi. Collaboration is the key to building an inclusive and globally competitive palm oil sector,” Azmi concluded.The Central Sulawesi Sustainable Palm Oil Multi-Stakeholder Forum is expected to become a collaborative platform that strengthens stakeholder partnerships while supporting the achievement of sustainable palm oil development targets across the province.