TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Vice President Jusuf Kalla called on the EU not to wage black campaign against the Indonesian palm oil. He asked them not to use environmental issues as the reason to diminish palm oil.
“Do not ruin the trade competition. This is basically a trade competition, but they use environmental issues as their argument,” said Kalla as quoted by the Minister of Trade, Enggartiasto Lukita, at the Vice President’s Office in Jalan Merdeka Utara, Jakarta, on Tuesday, May 15th, 2017.
Kalla expressed the statement when he received the visit of the Minister of Economic Development of Italy, Carlo Calenda. Kalla was accompanied by Enggar during the meeting. He affirmed to Carlo about Indonesia’s high commitment to control environmental issues.
Carlo visited Indonesia because the Italian government wanted to seek a more balanced trade cooperation with Indonesia. Enggar said that the trade between Indonesia and Italy decreased 9.4% in 2015 to 2016. However, Indonesia recorded a trade surplus of US$ 200 million. “They are expecting for a more balanced partnership. We certainly welcome their intention,” he said.
Italy wished their advanced technology to be used in the Indonesian leather industry. Enggar stated that Indonesia is ready to cooperate and the matter will be decided business to business.
On the other hand, Indonesia raised the issue of moratorium on palm oil plantations conducted by the EU. Enggar said that although the moratorium did not bind the EU countries, it served as a negative campaign for Indonesian palm oil.
Enggar said that the Eu has been not fair to Indonesia. “If we are talking about deforestation, then how musch forest we lost due to soybean fields in Europe? Why are we treated differently?” said Enggar.
Carlo stated that they will help to convey Indonesia’s objection to the moratorium.
AMIRULLAH SUHADA