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| Indonesia's Ambassador to Sri Lanka Dewi Gustina Tobing - Pic by Shehan Gunasekara |
By Janani Kandaramage
Indonesia’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka Dewi Gustina Tobing, on Thursday emphasised the critical role of palm oil in daily life and its broader economic impact on developing nations.
Speaking at the fifth Annual General Meeting of the Palm Oil Industry Association of Sri Lanka (POIASL), she underscored the transformative economic role of oil palm plantations, particularly in remote and underdeveloped areas.
She noted that these plantations act as catalysts for investment, infrastructure development and economic diversification.
“Oil palm plantations are often established in remote, underdeveloped areas, acting as catalysts for economic growth. They attract investment by providing access roads, guaranteed markets, and successful smallholder examples, which in turn stimulate sectors like transportation, banking, and trade. This development transforms rural areas into economic hubs, boosting smallholder incomes and creating a growing middle class,” she said.
Ambassador Tobing noted that oil palm smallholders’ higher and more stable incomes also enable them to repay loans ahead of schedule, demonstrating the sector’s financial sustainability and growth potential.
She also acknowledged palm oil as a versatile ingredient found in countless products used globally around the clock, from food to personal care and household goods.
“Palm oil is a versatile ingredient with wide applications for many products. Palm oil-based products are used by people around the world 24 hours a day, from morning to noon, to night-time. Consumers use palm oil in products such as toiletries (soap, shampoo, and toothpaste), other cleaning products (detergent), skincare (moisturizer, sunscreen), and makeup (lipstick, and foundation). Consumers also use food products containing palm oil, such as cooking oil, creamer, chocolate spread, bread, margarine, biscuit, potato chips, and salad dressing, to name a few. Therefore, palm oil’s existence is essential to support everyone’s life worldwide,” she elaborated.
