Thursday (22/08) in the event of discussion with the Asosiasi Pengusaha Hutan Indonesia (APHI), Dean of Faculty of Forestry, Dr. Budiadi conveys that Both Natural Forest and Forest plantation business currently facing difficulties to return to the glory state of Indonesia Forest Business like in the past. However, the academics are still quite optimistic to be able to return to that former glory. He then extends his remarks by appreciate APHI initiative to share their current updates on forest enterprises at the UGM campus, saying that this will be beneficial to strenghten the relation and share meaningful information between academia and professionals.
9 APHI representatives and 17 faculty of forestry lecturers has assembled to discuss on the way forward of forest enterprises in Indonesia. The 9 APHI representatives includes Tjipta Purwita (Organization and Finance Department), David (Natural Forest Product Department), Soewarso (Forest Plantation Product Chief Department), and Endro Siswoko (Business Development Department) as well as the vice chief of APHI, Rahardjo Benyamin. From the Faculty of Forestry some representatives join the discussion includingDr. Budiadi, S.Hut., M.Agr.Sc., Dr. Muhammad Ali Imron, S.Hut., M.Sc., Dr. Rohman, S.Hut., M.P., Dr. Ir. Sofyan P. Warsito, M.S., Prof. Dr. Ir. Mohammad Na’iem, M.Agr.Sc., Prof. Dr. Ir. Wahyu Andayani, M.S., Dr. Ir. Lies Rahayu Wijayanti Faida, M.P., Tomy Listyanto, S.Hut., M.Env.Sc., Ph.D., and others.
The Vice Chairman of APHI said that currently forest business in Indonesia is lagged behind Vietnam who has higher price of forest product. APHI intend to build cooperation with Faculty of Forestry UGM to build better industry of forestry in Indonesia. It is necessary to manage forestr Industry in Indonesia to cover the deficit of state financial and eventually to return to the glory days of forest industry, Rahardjo concluded.
Multi business shall be executed in forest industry which involved multiple business diversity implementation in forest plantation business unit to optimize the forest productivity through timber and nontimber product, and ecosystem service utilization. The strategy also should considert the potential of millenials since they have creativity and innovation, Siswoko said.
Prof. Dr. Ir. Wahyu Andayani, M.S., replies that APHI should also consider the social aspect besides economy aspect to ensure the business runs well. “APHI should be able to develop creative strategy to survive and thrift in forest industry in Indonesia through efficiency, innovation and competitiveness, Wahyu said.
The closing remarks were delivered by Vice Dean, Dr. Muhammad Ali Imron. The innovation in forestry sector will be challenged by complex polices, therefore faculty of forestry will facilitate to balance between innovation and the policy. Faculty of Forestry currently has established many study center i.e. SILIN study center, Forest Industry study center, Sebijak Institute, dan Natural Fiber Study Center. It will be possible to trigger product innovation through appropriate research and suitable schemes, Imron concludes.
