InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – After 22 years working at Socfindo, Bangun thought, his goal of life was not realized still. He then resigned where he was working at in 1989 and developed his own company.
Besides doing business, in fact, Bangun was active in many profession organizations, such as, PII (Persatuan Insinyur Indonesia), North Sumatera Indonesian Chambers, Apindo (Asosiasi Pengusaha Indonesia), Indonesian Palm Oil Board (IPOB), Indonesian Palm Oil Association (IPOA), AVOC (ASEAN Vegetable Oil Club), and RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil).
His skills and knowledge in palm oil made him get trust to get important positions in many palm oil organizations both in national and global scale. He helped the government in sustainable palm oil, always joined as official delegation of Indonesia in trade mission to many countries about introducing and escalating palm oil exports from Indonesia. He in some occasions accompanied former Minister of Agriculture, Anton Apriyantono and former General Director of Plantation Ministry of Agriculture, Achmad Mangga Barani in some meetings, such as, in London, Brussels, and Washington.
Bangun was famous not only in this country but in other countries. He was always invited as speakers in many conferences and seminars in international scale that discussed about palm oil. He was so persistent to defend smallholders and stakeholders’ interests, explain the advantages of palm oil for human kind. Bangun is one of four external advisory members of The World Bank.
He always stands in the front line to encounter many non-government organizations (NGOs) protests, such as, Greenpeace that said palm oil plantations damage environment. He actively campaigns that palm oil is very effective if it is processed to be the material of biofuel within its high calories. Besides, Bangun also encountered every opinion that said crude palm oil (CPO) would have something to health issues if it is used as material of palm cooking oil.
For his experts in diplomacy to defend on palm oil interests in national scale in many forums globally, Achmad Mangga Barani (2006 – 2010) called him as ‘Indonesian Palm Oil Ambassador’.
Bangun’s persistent efforts and struggle made palm oil as the mainstay commodity in Indonesia and in the world when the world population keeps increasing.
He also shared his experiences for many students. He once delivered scientific speech at the 20th Dies Natalis Universitas Karo (UKA) on 1 July 2006 with the title “Rahasia Mencapai Sukses”. Bangun thought, his success was a gift from The Almightly. It was not from his power. Bangun thought, he is obliged to share his experiences for the students that still need much for their future.
In his old age, Bangus does not stop working. He wrote 2 (two) books about palm oil, such as, “Derom Bangun: Memoar Duta Besar Sawit Indonesia” (2010) dan “Derom Bangun: Pemikiran Karya dan Pencapaian” (2023) and one book in Karo language, which is “Pengantar ke Arah Bahasa Karo yang Baik dan Benar” (2022).
The name of Derom Bangun cannot be separated from palm oil world. He did much to get palm oil industries go forward. Many involved in palm oil industrial progress. The smallholders get better, the companies go forward and should deliver impact for the workers’ welfare, the government gets big taxes and revenue from palm oil development. Bangun indirectly delivered positive impacts for many people namely those who work at palm oil sectors.
It is normal if stakeholders, smallholders, palm oil producers, oleochemical producers got many big advantages from palm oil and thank Derom Bangun for his hard work to maintain good palm oil images in the international world. (The end)
by: Maruli Pardamean/Agribusiness author and palm oil plantation practicitoner
