Netherlands Willing to Assist on Making Sustainable Palm Oil Come True

The Dutch Government offers assistance to Indonesia to resolve several issues on palm oil related to environment.

Netherlands Willing to Assist on Making Sustainable Palm Oil Come True

The Dutch Government offers assistance to Indonesia to resolve several issues on palm oil related to environment. The Netherlands is willing to assist oil palm farmers in achieving environmentally sustainable agriculture. This was conveyed by Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands, Sigrid Kaag when meeting the Negotiation Team of Indonesia for Bargaining Restrictions on Oil Palm Products who visited Deen Haag, Netherlands, Thursday (26/4/2018). The team led by the Coordinating Minister for the Environment Luhut B. Panjaitan met Kaag and agreed to schedule another meeting to follow up. `Minister Kaag asked how can his country help the farmers, especially oil palm farmers to practice sustainable farming practices. Because sustainable palm oil is what now being demanded, `said Coordinating Minister Luhut. During the meeting, Coordinating Minister Luhut also mentioned about a seminar facilitated by the Vatican in Rome next May to discuss oil palm and its impact on peace and humanity. `He expressed his intention to present, I informed him that this seminar will  invite not only the farmers, but also the elements of the European Parliament, NGOs, multi-national companies using palm oil products, and most of palm oil producing countries which are developing countries, `said Coordinating Minister Luhut after the meeting. He said Minister Kaag appreciated the efforts made by Indonesia in conducting meetings and explaining the situation of Indonesia in general and oil palm Indonesia. River Cleaning In addition to the oil palm, another thing that is discussed is the Indonesian government`s efforts in overcoming some environmental problems, one of which is Citarum River. He explained that in order to clean up the nearly 300-kilometer river the government divided it into 22 sectors led by military and police personnel. `I conveyed that the Government has also made the Presidential Regulation so that anyone who violates the rules can be prosecuted legally. Because there are thousands of industries along the river that contribute to the pollution of these rivers, they have no waste disposal facilities let alone undertake management disposal, `said Coordinating Minister Luhut. Plastic waste thrown to the river is also the most urgent factor to be addressed in an area of ??over 27 million people. Menko Luhut explained the impact of plastic waste by residents, the impact to pregnant women who consume the fishes it can create a stunting generation. `Minister Kaag also offers to assist us in processing management and recycling of plastic waste. I informed him that there is already a Dutch company involved in doing Citarum River cleaning and he is willing to provide assistance if something is needed in this regard, `said Coordinating Minister Luhut. Do not know Indonesia From The Hague, during the day Menko Luhut departed to Berlin, the capital of Germany. To the journalist who met him Coordinating Minister Luhut told a story that on this journey that he met not just few dialogue counterpart who do not know Indonesia in depth. Many do not know that Indonesia has achieved so much progress in technology and economic growth is also very satisfying, as well as the environment. Being asked about the issue of radicalism, Luhut said that Indonesia understands what to do because Indonesia is the target of attack. `So I told them to come to Indonesia and see it by themselves what actually happening in Indonesia. We are not banana republic, `he said. Answering the question of what Indonesia is concern most if the restriction on purchasing biodiesel from palm oil is decided, Luhut said he will make use the remaining time to talk and deliver what the government has done for oil palm. `One of them is a seminar that will be facilitated by the Vatican, the theme of Palm Oil Alliance for Humanity and Peace` he replied. (Source: maritim.go.id)