Indonesia Appreciates Dutch Support on Palm Oil

INDONESIAN Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi met with her Dutch counterpart Stephanus Abraham Blok, Tuesday (3/7/2018), and discussed efforts to increase economic cooperation, including the European Union policy on palm oil. Retno expressed her appreciation for the Dutch support to Indonesia’s sustainable palm oil and conveyed Dutch support request to oppose all forms of discrimination against Indonesian palm oil in Europe. “I spoke with Stefanus that we will continue to work together to meet win win solution for this issue. For Indonesia, we keep working to ensure no more discrimination against palm oil, and we agree to discuss with European Union on the matter,” said Retno at Pancasila Room of Ministry Foreign Affairs, Central Jakarta. The meeting was held during working visit of Dutch Foreign Minister to Indonesia, July 2-4 2018, and was the first visit of Dutch Foreign Minister Stefanus Abraham Blok to Indonesia since Dutch newest administration in October 2017. During the meeting, Indonesian Foreign Minister emphasized the importance of palm oil commodities for Indonesian economy. Retno said, Dutch government should be concerned with European Union decision related with restriction of vegetable-based biofuel, including palm oil start from 2030. “We have read European Union trilogy draft related with revision on European Union purpose on sustainable energy and we supposed to be concerned that draft is contain potential discrimination on palm oil.” ***