Indonesia-India Join Hands to Promote Sustainable Palm Oil

INDONESIAN and Indian palm oil and vegetable oil producers has agreed to promote sustainable palm oil framework adopted by the two countries, namely Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) and Indian Palm Oil Sustainability Framework (IPOS). The agreement was reached at the meeting between Indonesian Palm Oil Board (DMSI), The Solvent Extractors’ Association India (SEA India) and Solidaridad Network Asia Limited (SNAL) which was facilitated by Coordinating Ministry of Economic Affairs in Jakarta, Wednesday (19/12/2018). “This is a business to business meeting. The government serves as facilitator and observer,” Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, Coordinating Ministry of Economic Affairs, Musdhalifah Machmud said. Chairman of DMSI Derom Bangun said the cooperation will strengthen trade relation between Indonesian and India. Under this agreement, both parties will create a partnership to do following actions. Firstly, to promote sustainable palm oil in Indian market through increased awareness about ISPO and IPOS amongst all stakeholders including consumers. Secondly, to establish a joint committee to facilitate and collaborate with both government in a bid to strengthen trade relation between the two countries. Thirdly, to improve farmers’ participation in  implementing ISPO and IPOS. The agreement will be carried out by joint committee chaired by Derom Bangun anf Atul Chaturvedi, the President of SEA India. Musdhalifah Machmud dan Willistra Danny from Coordinating Ministry of Economic Affairs will co-chair the committee. Other members of the committee including Delima Hasri Darmawan (Indonesian Plantation Companies Association/GPPI), Darmono Taniwiryono (Indonesian Palm Oil Community/MAKSI), Kulbir Mehta (Solidaridad), B.V. Mehta (SEA India), Shatadru Chattopadhayay (Solidaridad), Suresh Motwani (Solidaridad), Edi Suhardi (Indonesian Palm Oil Association/GAPKI), Sahat Sinaga (Indonesian Vegetable Oil Association/GIMNI), Rino Afrino (Indonesian Palm Oil Smallholders Association/APKASINDO), Azis Hidayat (ISPO), Vikash Sharma (GODREJ India), and Dono Boestami (the Indonesian Oil Palm Estate Fund/BPDPKS). ***