ID FOOD To Host NSS 2023, Will Discuss Technology Utilization To Accelerate National Sugar Self-Sufficiency

President Director of PT Rajawali Nusantara Indonesia (Persero) or ID FOOD Frans Marganda Tambunan. (Photo: Doc. ID FOOD)

JAKARTA - The largest sugar industry conference in Indonesia is being held again. This year's National Sugar Summit (NSS) has the theme "Through Superior Agri-Tech Practice in Fulfillment of National Sugar Resilience".

President Director of PT Rajawali Nusantara Indonesia (Persero) or ID FOOD Frans Marganda Tambunan through his statement, Tuesday, December 12, in Jakarta, said that this year's NSS will be held at the ID FOOD Office, Waskita Rajawali Tower, Jakarta, for 2 days on December 13-14, 2023. This is the second time in the last two years ID FOOD (formerly RNI) has hosted NSS.

"In its implementation, we collaborate with the Indonesian Sugar Association (AGI) and the Indonesian Sugar Experts Association (IKAGI). Of course this is part of the role of ID FOOD as Food Holding to consolidate various sugar stakeholders in order to support the strengthening of the national sugar industry," he said.

Frans said that the 2023 NSS will discuss various important issues related to national and global tender, particularly regarding the importance of using IT (Information Technology) in various sugar industry activities. In addition, a number of formulations of discussion results are expected to be a recommendation for implementing policies related to the sugar industry.

"Various stakeholders of the national and international sugar industry will be present and participate. Starting from government elements as policy makers, sugar producers, farmers, researchers, investors, observers, and sugar practitioners. So it is important to make maximum use of this activity as a forum that can provide input for the advancement of the national and global sugar sector going forward," he explained.

Furthermore, Frans said, NSS 2023 is a strategic moment considering that recently the Government has stipulated Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 40 of 2023 which discussed the Acceleration of National Sugar Self-Sufficiency which stipulates self-sufficiency in consumption sugar in 2028 and self-sufficiency in consumption and industry in 2030.

"This can be a strategic forum to discuss what steps to accelerate what we can do together and synergize," he said.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the 2023 NSS Committee Ardian Wijanarko said a number of figures and speakers would attend the activities that will be held in two days.

"We invite elements of government, such as the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, the Minister of SOEs, the Minister of Agriculture, and the Head of the National Food Agency. Also joined from academics, researchers, and analysts from within and outside the country such as the Chancellor of IPB University, LPP Agro Nusantara, P3GI, as well as food and agricultural businesses," he said.

The themes that will be discussed in the panel session include digitizing Indonesian sugar in the context of supply chain efficency which will be conveyed by the Director of Supply Chain Management and IT ID FOOD Bernadatta Raras, the direction of the sugar industry policy according to Presidential Decree No. 40 of 2023, the policy of maintaining sugar supply in the midst of high sugar price dynamics, development of IT-based agro-technology, digital and prestige farming in sugarcane plantations, technological engineering in the creation of new superior varieties. In addition, an award will be carried out for outstanding sugar factories and sugarcane cane farmers as well as the XIV IKAGI Congress and the AgI Extraordinary Plenary Meeting.

"In order for missions to educate and disseminate the idea of developing the sugar industry to be achieved, NSS 2023 is also present on online and live streaming channels on IDFOOD_Official youtubes. We invite all national sugar players to collaborate together and make this moment a turning point for realizing self-sufficiency in sugar," he concluded.