EU should end discriminatory measures against Indonesia’s palm oil

Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi earnestly appealed to the European Union (EU) to avoid discriminating against Indonesian palm oil, as the Southeast Asian nation was endeavoring to achieve economic recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “Indonesia’s request is simple that fair treatment be given to Indonesian palm oil,” Marsudi remarked during a virtual press statement after…

Palm Oil Contributes Significantly to Indonesia’s Exports, Says Minister

Indonesia’s food and beverage industry, particularly palm oil, has contributed significantly to the country’s exports, in addition to base metal industry and chemical product and chemical industry. The food and beverage industry contributed US$9.69 billion, the base metal industry at US$5.87 billion, and the chemical product and chemical industry amounting to US$4.18 billion. “The food industry’s export…

Indonesia, UK Lead International Dialogue on Forest Sustainability

Indonesia has officially agreed to co-chair an international alliance that brings together producers and consumers of forest agriculture and commodities. Together with the UK, Indonesia will lead more than 25 countries grouping in the Forest Agriculture & Commodities Trade (FACT) Dialogue to protect and increase sustainability of supply chains of forest products. “I am delighted…

Indonesia, Romania agree to boost trade, investment cooperation

Indonesia and Romania have agreed to increase cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, investment, counter-terrorism, COVID-19 handling, and mutual support at international forums during high-level talks held virtually on Thursday. Deputy Foreign Minister Mahendra Siregar and director general of American and European affairs at the Foreign Ministry, Ngurah Swajaya, co-chaired the Indonesian delegation at…

Economic development and climate-friendly palm oil production in Indonesia can go hand in hand

Indonesia’s palm oil production is controversial due to its contribution to climate change and loss of biodiversity as a result of large-scale deforestation. Researchers at Wageningen University & Research joined forces with partners in the USA and Indonesia to show that Indonesia can meet the future demand for palm oil in a climate-friendly way without…

Q&A: Ensuring sustainable palm oil production amid a pandemic

When it comes to making the palm oil industry more sustainable, the plantations themselves can’t do it alone. Agus Purnomo, managing director for sustainability and strategic stakeholder engagement at Singapore-headquartered palm oil company Golden Agri-Resources, said the collaboration of governments and consumers is vital, especially as the industry faces additional challenges amid the COVID-19 pandemic.…

Conditional Victory For Indonesian Palm Oil

Switzerland approved free trade agreement with Indonesia. With the condition, however, that Indonesia produces palm oil in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way. THE result of Switzerland’s referendum on March 7 showed approval of Swiss people towards economic cooperation between their country and Indonesia, particularly in palm oil trade.  The voters gave the green light…

Indonesia: A forest first nation

On Sunday, we celebrated International Forest Day. Since the last International Forest Day, the world has been focused on COVID-19 and the economic recovery. But for countries like Indonesia, home to the largest forest areas in Asia, the pandemic, the economy and the country’s forests seem inseparable. Forests cannot be detached from the livelihoods of…

EU-Asian Partnerships are necessary to prevent the next pandemic

COVID-19 has demonstrated the vulnerability of global supply chains and revealed the ever-increasing ecological dangers of industrial expansion, which has amplified the risks of diseases migrating from animals to humans. This is demonstrated in a new report launched by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres which argues that to prevent future pandemics the world must cooperate to addresses interlinked…

Indonesia seeks cooperation with Dutch in climate change adaptation

According to a written statement received here on Thursday, Minister Siti Nurbaya highlighted numerous efforts made by Indonesia and could set an example for the Netherlands and the global community in addressing climate change. “Indonesia has concrete examples of efforts to achieve economic resilience, social and livelihood resilience, as well as ecosystem and landscape resilience,” the minister…