VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The governments of Indonesia and Ghana have agreed to cooperate against the negative campaign on palm oil commodity.

"I have met the vice minister of agriculture and food of Ghana. We discussed about a lot of negative campaigns against oil palm. The palm oil-producing countries should unite against the negative campaigns," Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi stated here on Wednesday.

She met the Vice Minister of Agriculture and Food of Ghana Kennedy, Osei Nyarko, at the bilateral meeting that was held on the sidelines of the Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) at Nusa Dua Bali Convention Center. Indonesia and Ghana discussed extensively about the palm oil industry as they are among the countries that produce the commodity. Marsudi added that the Ghana government has expressed willingness to jointly face the challenges of the negative campaign.

"Ghana has expressed its readiness to cooperate with Indonesia in order to handle the negative campaigns against oil palm industry," Marsudi revealed.

Additionally, Indonesia has also invited Ghana to join the association of palm oil-producing countries, Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC), which was established on the initiative of Indonesia.

"The government of Ghana must consider their participation in CPOPC. There are already some Indonesian palm oil companies in Ghana. Ghana has asked Indonesia to help the development of its palm oil industry," the foreign minister remarked.

Some negative campaigns against palm oil have occurred in EU countries, where a resolution entitled "Palm Oil and Deforestation of the Rain Forest" was proposed by the European Parliament on the basis that the development of the palm oil industry has become the major cause of deforestation and weather changes. The action is considered contrary to the stance of the EU that embraces the principle of fair trade. ( antara ) 

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan said he appreciated the implementation of Indonesia Africa Forum 2018 held in Nusa Dua, Bali. According to him this forum is a meeting between developing countries like Indonesia and African countries in an effort to improve the economy.

He also welcomed the proposal to organize a similar forum in 2019 that brings Indonesia to all countries in the African continent as a concrete manifestation of the spirit of the Asian-African Conference that can improve the welfare of the community on both sides.

"I think this meeting is extraordinarily good. It is amazing that the spirit of the Asian-African Conference is starting to be realized in the form of concrete welfare. We are developing countries with African countries, what is the form? We have common interest. Therefore, I think it is a good idea to hold similar event like this ​​next year. And we are fellow developing country even though we are G20 and above 1.1 trillion of our GDP, I think we still need this and that is solidarity, that is the form of Asia Africa Conference, which was also initiated by Indonesia at that time in 1955. To be honest to you this makes money, brings prosperity to the people of Indonesia and people of African countries, "said Luhut.

Until the first day of the Indonesia Africa Forum 2018, more than 10 trade agreements and memoranda of understanding between Indonesia and the African countries have been signed. The total trade agreement amounts to more than 500 million US dollars and will increase as the relationship of both parties increases.

The 2018 Indonesia Africa Forum that is held for two days has brought together policymakers, businesses, small and medium enterprises and State-Owned Enterprises.

The forum addresses strategic topics at the policymaker level, including economic diplomacy, infrastructure development, financial facility initiatives, digital transformation and strategic industry cooperation. The forum also hosts business forums addressing important content such as connectivity, digital economy, agriculture, small and medium enterprises, South-south cooperation and development efforts. (VOI / Andy / AHM)

On the sidelines of a series of activities of the Indonesia Africa Forum 2018 in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi also received representatives from Ethiopian Airlines. According to Retno, the Indonesian government stressed the importance of connectivity aspect in an effort to improve cooperation relationship with countries in Africa.

Related to that, the Indonesian government welcomes the formation of direct flight from Jakarta to the capital city of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa.

Nevertheless, according to Retno, this step will not stop there. The Indonesian government also wants Addis Ababa to be a liaison between Indonesia's cooperation with African countries.

"We can feel that there is a lack of connectivity between Indonesia with Africa including for air connectivity. Therefore, the agreement to conduct direct flight from Jakarta to Addis Ababa is a new breakthrough to support the economic activities of Indonesia in Africa. So again this is a breakthrough but it is a very early one too. So breakthrough but not everything because we want to also make Addis Ababa as a hub for our steps to strengthen connectivity in other African regions, especially in the sub-region, "Retno said.

Furthermore, in his meeting with Ethiopian Airlines CEO, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, who was also accompanied by Garuda Indonesia, encouraged increased cooperation between the two airlines.

She encouraged the achievement of cooperation between Garuda Maintenance Facility with Ethiopian Airlines in technical handling for Ethiopian Airlines flight to Jakarta.

In addition, the cooperation of the two airlines, according to Retno, can also be extended especially in the field of training. Currently, according to Retno, Garuda Maintenance Facility already has a training center that has received recognition from Airbus. (VOI / Andy / AHM)

The Indonesian government insists it will be ready to conduct a trade war if crude palm oil products are rejected by countries in Europe. This was stated by Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita, Tuesday in Nusa Dua, Bali, on the sidelines of the Indonesia Africa Forum 2018.

The Minister of Trade affirmed that the Indonesian government will begin to limit imports of commodities from Europe if Europe has begun to limit the export of crude palm oil. According to him this step has been conveyed to Vice President Muhammad Jusuf Kalla and will be done in coordination with various related parties, including the business world. Nevertheless Enggartiasto Lukita explained the step of trade war is the last step that will be done because it will not benefit all parties.

"Yesterday at the Vice President's office we have all been called. This will be done later in coordination including involving other Ministries / Institutions as well as from the business world. Because we are not only defensive but we will also do offensive efforts. So the trade war will start when you ban like that. There is a saying you scratch my back I scratch yours, that's it. So if you do that I'm ready. But we all let us realize that the trade war is nothing to gain. We do not want to start it, "Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita said.

Previously it was reported the EU Parliament plans to ban the use of crude palm oil in its member countries because it is considered not to be environmentally friendly.

It threatens the export of CPO from Indonesia to European countries, because palm oil and its derivative products cannot be exported.

The EU Parliament claims to entirely impose oil palm-free by 2021, with the approval of a renewable energy bill.

As much as 46 percent of the total imports of palm oil by the European Union are used for biodiesel. It is feared to have adverse environmental impacts, including being considered to be the cause of deforestation in Asian and Latin American countries. (VOI / Andy / AHM)