SLEMAN - Faculty of Industrial Engineering UPN "Veteran" Yogyakarta (UPNVY) again held a National Seminar on Chemical Engineering "Kejuangan" (SNTKK). This is the 18th   event held since 1995.

The Dean of Industrial Engineering Faculty Ir. Tjukup Marnoto, M.T., Ph.D. said SNTKK 2018 whose theme was "Development of Chemical Technology for Processing of Natural Resources of Indonesia" was held at Quality Hotel Yogyakarta, Thursday (12/4/2018).

"Through this scientific forum, there will be ideas to improve technological strengthening, technology implementation, and technology deployment so that it can realize the sovereignty in technology to support the implementation of nation and state development" he hoped.

Rector of UPN "Veteran" Yogyakarta, Prof. Dr. Ir. Sari Bahagiarti K., M.Sc. during the speech said the selection of the seminar theme was very suitable to  the diverse of Indonesian Biological Resources whose usefulness can be developed, so it is necessary to conduct a research to process efficiently to obtain optimal results.

According to Sari, there were similar national seminars have been held, but the ones on industrial development are still less.

"There are still many studies that are macro and research-oriented,  but not yet commercial," she said.

The results of the research, added the Rector, have not been able to encourage investors to finance the commercialization of research results. Most researches conducted by many universities are fundamental researches, so there has been no selling value for the industry.

SNTKK presented the speakers of the General of the Indonesian Palm Oil Entrepreneur Association (GAPKI) Tigar Sitanggang, Director of Partnership of Palm Oil Plantation Management Board, Edi Wibowo, and Prof. Dr. Ir. Sri Raharjo, M.Sc., Professor of the Department of Food Technology and Agricultural Products Faculty of Agricultural Technology UGM Yogyakarta.

According to Tigar Sitanggang, the vegetable oil consumption continues to increase every year. It is triggered by the increasing world population and per capita consumption. "Vegetable oil consumption is increasing every year which is triggered by the increasing world population and rising per capita consumption, especially for food needs", he explained.

Production of palm oil, he said, is one of Indonesia's agricultural commodities that experienced a surplus production. Even 70% of production surplus brought Indonesia to dominate the world vegetable oil market, so that Indonesia earns substantial foreign exchange earnings from palm commodities.

Edi Wibowo said that palm oil is a national strategic commodity. Palm oil industry plays an important role in the Indonesian economy. "The palm oil industry is one of Indonesia's national strategic commodities that has an important role for Indonesian economy", he explained.

As a labor-intensive industry, explained Edi Wibowo, millions of people rely heavily on Indonesia's palm oil industry. The growth of palm oil industry will play an important role in improving people's welfare. (BMW-fti)