Soswit Goes To School, GAPKI Introduces the Potential of the Palm Oil Industry to the Young Generation

GAPKI held the Sobat Sawit (Soswit) Goes To School Sulawesi activity at SMK Negeri 1 Pasangkayu, West Sulawesi, Monday 4 Meei 2026 (Ist)

PASANGKAYU - The Indonesian Palm Oil Entrepreneurs Association (GAPKI) held the Sobat Sawit (Soswit) Goes To School Sulawesi activity at SMK Negeri 1 Pasangkayu, West Sulawesi, with a focus on introducing the strategic role of the palm oil industry in opening up employment opportunities and driving the regional economy, Monday, May 4.

The activity with the theme "Palm Oil is Near: Give Work, Move the Economy, Build the Region" was opened by the Regent of Pasangkayu H. Yaumil Ambo Djiwa and was attended by more than 280 students and teachers from various SMA/SMK in Pasangkayu Regency.

The Regent of Yaumil emphasized that the palm oil sector has a major contribution to labor absorption and local economic growth. He encouraged students to understand the potential of this industry in its entirety, from upstream to downstream.

"Palm oil is not just about commodities, but also opens up many job opportunities and drives the community's economy. Young generations need to understand this well," he said.

This activity is a collaboration between GAPKI and member companies, PT Pasangkayu, and is supported by the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP). This program is designed to provide closer and more relevant education to the younger generation related to the palm oil industry.

Various educational agendas were presented, ranging from student works exhibitions, mading competitions, to interactive talkshows with academics and industry practitioners. The discussion also highlighted career opportunities in the palm oil sector as well as the industry's role in the national economy.

Faculty of Economics of Tadulako University, Failur Rahman, said that palm oil contributed around 90 percent of exports from West Sulawesi Province, making it the backbone of the local economy.

"This shows that palm oil is very vital, both in creating jobs and supporting people's economic activities," he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of GAPKI Branch Sulawesi Dony Yoga Perdana hopes that this activity can increase the understanding of students as well as encourage the interest of young people to have a career in the palm oil agribusiness sector.

Through this activity, GAPKI emphasized that the palm oil industry not only plays a role as an export commodity, but also as a major driver of the regional economy and a provider of extensive employment opportunities for the community.