Russia Commits to Support Oil Palm

The Russian government is commiting to support Indonesia in the effort to fight the black campaign against oil palm products by the European Union. Russia and Indonesia also agreed to increase trade in oil palm and wheat products. `We are not doing a black campaign like any other European country,` said Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Ludmila Vorobieva after meeting the Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman in Jakarta, (8/6/2018). Minister Amran welcomed Russia`s stance to support Indonesia`s ongoing palm oil product campaign. The intense black campaign conducted by the European Union hamper Indonesian oil palm exports. According to him, it will even lead to palm oil price drop. Amran asks all parties to see palm oil from a community well-being approach, not only from an environmental perspective. If the price of palm is collapsed by black campaigns, there will be about 30 million farmers that have to create another source of income and it may lead to expanding  planting area. `It will likely will clear the forrest and convert it to plantation area,` Amran said. In the meeting Russia expressed its commitment to continue importing palm products from Indonesia, while Indonesia will import wheat from Russia. Russia ensures there will be no notariff barriers to the imports of palm oil products. In addition, this cooperation also includes other Indonesian agricultural commodities such as rubber, cocoa, coffee, and tea. In fact, the Russians is opening the possibilities of buying fruits from Indonesia. In return, Russia also offers their commodities of wheat, soybeans, and cereals to Indonesia. Both sides also agreed to form a working group discussion to expand the potential of agricultural cooperation between Indonesia and Russia. ***