Jokowi to Inaugurate Red Cooking Oil Factory in North Sumatra

Sumatra – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and the First Lady visited North Sumatra on Thursday as part of a working visit to inaugurate the Pagar Merbau Palm Oil Factory in Deli Serdang Regency.

The Head of State will inaugurate the Pagar Merbau Red Cooking Oil Pilot Plant.

During the inauguration, Jokowi highlighted Indonesia's extensive palm oil plantations, totaling 15.3 million hectares, with 6.2 million hectares owned by farmers.

"We aim to increase value-added processing within the country. Therefore, the establishment of this red cooking oil plant marks a significant step forward," the President stated through the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube channel.

"We anticipate it will provide substantial benefits to palm oil farmers, particularly those involved in cooperatives. By processing everything into finished products, such as red cooking oil, we aim to stabilize the price of Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB)," the President added.

The President emphasized its competitive pricing compared to conventional cooking oil in the market.

Additionally, President Jokowi highlighted the nutritional richness of red cooking oil, which retains essential vitamins like A and E even after processing.

"This product stands poised to compete effectively in the market. I also stated that its nutritional content remains intact, as endorsed by several chefs who have found it to be tastier and nutritionally superior. Therefore, I encourage everyone present to embrace its usage," President Jokowi explained.

Furthermore, the President emphasized the importance of shifting towards finished products like red cooking oil, rather than solely relying on the export of raw materials like crude palm oil (CPO), to drive industrial growth.