Jakarta. Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) strengthened its position as a sustainable finance pioneer with the launch of the country’s first ESG Advisory Playbook dedicated to the palm oil sector. The initiative makes BNI the first bank in Indonesia to provide a comprehensive guide designed to help borrowers execute a structured, measurable, and globally compliant green transition.

The move responds to growing international demands for sustainability in the palm oil supply chain, including the implementation of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which has direct implications for Indonesian exports. The playbook was launched during the BNI ESG & Sustainability Transition (BEST) Event 2025, themed “Driving Sustainability in Palm Oil Sector with BNI,” at BNI Tower Pejompongan on Wednesday.

The event was attended by BNI executives including President Director Putrama Wahju Setyawan, Vice President Director Alexandra Askandar, Risk Management Director David Pirzada, Corporate Banking Director Agung Prabowo, and Commercial Banking Director Muhammad Iqbal, along with SEVP Credit Risk Bun Hendra and SEVP Wholesale Solution & Value Chain Pancaran Effendi, underscoring top-level support for sustainability transformation in a strategic national sector.

Vice President Director Alexandra Askandar said the playbook serves as a strategic assistance tool for palm oil players seeking to strengthen sustainability practices amid tightening global regulations.

“This advisory playbook enables businesses to initiate and enhance their sustainability transition based on their strategy and capabilities, ensuring a more systematic and targeted transformation process,” Alexandra said.

She noted that the launch follows the success of the BEST Event 2024, which focused on the application of the Indonesian Sustainable Finance Taxonomy (TKBI) for energy-sector borrowers. This year, BNI expanded advisory coverage to the palm oil sector due to its significant contribution to the national economy.

“As the first bank in Indonesia to introduce an advisory playbook, we reaffirm BNI’s commitment to supporting borrowers and helping accelerate Indonesia’s transition toward the Nationally Determined Contribution target for 2060, or sooner,” Alexandra added.

The playbook was formulated through a Focus Group Discussion on 30 October 2025, involving stakeholders including the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Ministry of Agriculture, the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (Gapki), and the state-owned palm oil company Perkebunan Nusantara IV. Their input served as a critical foundation to ensure the playbook is practical, relevant, and responsive to real industry challenges.

During the launch, Reina Haronima Tampubolon, Vice President of Green Energy Business Development at Perkebunan Nusantara IV, and Agus Purnomo, Director of Sustainability and Strategic Stakeholder Engagement at Sinar Mas Agro Resources & Technology, shared their experiences in implementing ESG transition roadmaps and navigating operational challenges.

Togu Rudianto Saragih, Head of Palm Oil Cultivation Group at the Agriculture Ministry, outlined the government’s policy direction to accelerate sustainability in the sector, while Gapki Executive Director Mukti Sardjono underscored the importance of cross-industry collaboration.

Alexandra stressed that the initiative reflects a long-term commitment rather than a one-off campaign.

“We expect this advisory playbook to become a practical resource that enables businesses to design and strengthen transition efforts aligned with their strategies and capabilities, ensuring access to relevant and solution-driven support throughout the sustainability journey,” she said.

With the introduction of the ESG Advisory Playbook for the palm oil sector, BNI further solidifies its role as a financial institution actively steering sustainability transformation across strategic national industries. The effort also represents a meaningful contribution to Indonesia’s pursuit of net-zero emissions by 2060 -- or earlier -- while enhancing the competitiveness of the palm oil sector in global markets.