President Jokowi Raises Palm Oil Issues to New Zealand PM

Indonesian government continues its palm oil diplomacy to promote palm oil as a sustainable commodity.

President Jokowi Raises Palm Oil Issues to New Zealand PM

JAKARTA—Indonesian government continues its palm oil diplomacy to promote palm oil as a sustainable commodity. During a short trip to New Zealand, (19/3/2018), President Jokowi raised palm oil issues during a meeting with Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern.

President Jokowi said that palm oil industry in Indonesia have been strictly controlled through sustainable practices. “More than 17 million people make a living from palm oil in Indonesia, three times of the population of New Zealand. Half of the plantations are owned by smallholders,” President Jokowi said in its official statement.

Palm oil production has contributed to economic benefits such as government revenues, profits for companies, employment, and raised incomes for smallholders. Million rural Indonesians were lifted from poverty exclusively due to growth in the palm oil sector.

He reaffirmed that Indonesia continues to implement sustainable and environmentally friendly practices in palm oil industry.

Since 2012, New Zealand is one of importers of a by-product of palm oil serving as feeds for ruminants. Feeding by-product of palm oil to dairy cows can increase productivity and extend the lactation of dairy cows. Previously, demands for this product were met by Malaysian exporters. Apart from to New Zealand, market of China Korea, Vietnam also became export targets of palm kernel cakes. ***