Minister of Environment and Forestry, Siti Nurbaya Bakar on behalf of Indonesian government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the agreement of voluntary partnerships on forestry law enforcement, management and trade in timber products or FLEGT - VPA with the United Kingdom (UK) in Jakarta on Friday, March 30 2019. In this case, the UK was represented by the UK Ambassador to Indonesia, Moazzam Malik. The signing was a follow-up between the two sides as an important step to secure trade and wood products if the UK officially no longer joins the European Union. Met after the event, Director of Forest Products Processing and Marketing at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Dr. Rufi'ie explained that the agreement would make it easier for Indonesia to export wood products to the UK.

“This agreement will make our business export to UK easier because UK also will implement the same rule, the same regulation with EU considering the export import wood products into UK so if there is no FLEGT licensing we will have to do due diligence with our system, with our agreement timber products from Indonesia will not have to do due diligence,” said Rufi’ie.

Rufi'ie added that the certification license for the timber legality verification system (SVLK) scheme would be carried out by independent institution such as a confirmation assessment body that would be accredited by the National Accreditation Committee (KAN) on which the Indonesian government would only be a regulator and facilitator. (NK)