July 11, 2024 | The Jakarta Post |
The Ministry of Industry is establishing new departments within the Oil Palm Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS) to develop Indonesia's cocoa and coconut industries, ensuring raw material availability and industrial competitiveness. This initiative, announced on July 10, 2024, will be funded through an export tax scheme. Indonesia, once the third-largest cocoa producer, now imports 62% of its cacao beans. The cocoa processing industry has declined, with nine out of 20 companies closing. The coconut sector remains underdeveloped, exporting mostly whole coconuts. The new departments aim to boost productivity, processing yields, and exports, benefiting farmers and businesses alike.