Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi (Photo: Antara)Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi called onthe European Union (EU) to give fair treatment to palm oil during the 23rd ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting held online on December 1.
Retno Marsudi’s request was given following the European Council (EC)’sadoption of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) in March last year, inwhich the EC concluded that palm oil plantation resulted in massivedeforestation worldwide, and set down plans to phase out the use of palm oilcompletely by 2030.
To improve common understanding and bridgebetter policies and self confidence in the sustainable palm oil industry, theASEAN and the EU have agreed on the creation of a Joint Working Group (JWG) todiscuss vegetable oils in proportion to palm oil.
The Indonesian diplomat said she welcomes the plan to organise the first JWGmeeting in January, 2021, stressing the ASEAN-EU partnership should bemaintained based on mutual benefit, equality and non-discrimination so as tofurther develop the strategic partnership.
Earlier, Marsudi said if other vegetable oils need 278 million hectares ofcultivated land, palm oil requires just 17 million hectares.
Southeast Asia is the world’s largest palm oil producer, accounting for 89percent of the global production, she said, adding palm oil can play animportant role in helping nations achieve sustainable development goals sincethe palm oil sector generates 26 million jobs in the region, and gains tens ofbillions of USD each year.
In Indonesia, the industry helped 10 million households escape poverty, andcontributed 23 billion USD to the country’s foreign exchange coffers in 2019,she said.
Indonesia has stressed that the post-pandemic economic recovery in the contextof environmental protection must serve common interests and commitments.
Environmentally friendly production of palm oil is the commitment of Indonesiaand the EU, she added./.
VNA
