PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk, or BNI, is solidifying its position as a pioneer in sustainable finance by launching an ESG Advisory Playbook specifically for the palm oil plantation sector. This initiative makes BNI the first bank in Indonesia to provide comprehensive guidance to assist debtors in making a green transition in a targeted, measurable, and globally compliant manner.
This strategic step responds to growing international demands for sustainable palm oil industry practices, including the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which has a direct impact on Indonesia's palm oil supply chain. The playbook was launched as part of the BNI ESG & Sustainability Transition (BEST) Event 2025, themed "Driving Sustainability in the Palm Oil Sector with BNI," at the BNI Pejompongan Tower on Wednesday (19/11/2025).
The event was also attended by BNI's board of directors, including President Director Putrama Wahju Setyawan, Deputy President Director Alexandra Askandar, Risk Management Director David Pirzada, Corporate Banking Director Agung Prabowo, and Commercial Banking Director Muhammad Iqbal. Also present were SEVP Bun Hendra (Credit Risk SEVP) and Pancaran Effendi (Wholesale Solution & Value Chain SEVP), who emphasized management's support for the sustainability transition agenda in the national strategic sector.
BNI Deputy President Director Alexandra Askandar emphasized that this playbook is a strategic guidance tool for palm oil industry players to strengthen their sustainability practices amidst global regulatory dynamics.
"This advisory playbook serves as a guide for business owners to initiate and enhance transition efforts in line with their company's strategy and capabilities, enabling the transition process to be carried out in a more systematic and targeted manner," said Alexandra.
Alexandra added that the launch of this playbook builds on the success of BEST Event 2024, which previously focused on the implementation of the Indonesian Sustainable Finance Taxonomy (TKBI) for energy sector borrowers. This year, BNI is expanding its assistance to the palm oil sector, a strategic sector with a significant contribution to the national economy.
"As the first bank in Indonesia to have an advisory playbook, this underscores BNI's commitment to continue being a partner to debtors and supporting Indonesia's transition to the NDC 2060 target or sooner," she explained.
The playbook was developed through a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on October 30, 2025, involving various parties, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Ministry of Agriculture, GAPKI (Indonesian Palm Oil Association), and PT Perkebunan Nusantara IV (PTPN IV). Input from stakeholders is a crucial foundation for ensuring the playbook is practical, relevant, and capable of addressing the real challenges facing the palm oil industry in the field.
At the launch event, Vice President of Green Energy Business Development of PT Perkebunan Nusantara IV Reina Haronima Tampubolon and Director of Sustainability and Strategic Stakeholder Engagement of PT Sinar Mas Agro Resources & Technology Tbk Agus Purnomo shared their experiences regarding the implementation of the ESG transition roadmap and the challenges in the implementation process.
Head of the Oil Palm Cultivation Group of the Directorate of Oil Palm and Various Palms of the Directorate General of Plantations of the Ministry of Agriculture Togu Rudianto Saragih also explained the policy direction to accelerate the sustainability transition in the palm oil sector, while the Executive Director of the Indonesian Palm Oil Entrepreneurs Association (GAPKI) Mukti Sardjono emphasized the importance of collaboration across business actors.
Alexandra further stated that the launch of this playbook is not merely a form of short-term support, but rather part of a long-term commitment to assisting debtors in facing changes in the global industrial landscape.
"We hope this advisory playbook can serve as a practical guide for businesses to design and strengthen transition efforts that align with their company's strategy and capabilities, so that every business has access to relevant and solution-oriented guidance in navigating the dynamics of the sustainability transition," said Alexandra.
With the launch of the ESG Advisory Playbook for the palm oil sector, BNI further solidifies its role as a financial institution actively promoting sustainability transformation in strategic national sectors. This step also represents a tangible contribution to supporting Indonesia's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2060 or sooner, and strengthening the competitiveness of the Indonesian palm oil industry in the global market.