Jakarta, IO – Indonesia and Malaysia agreed to increase cooperation in the palm oil sector after the European Union discriminated against the export of the commodity. It is important for the two countries through the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (COPC) to approach the European Union (EU) to prevent unwanted consequences from the regulation for deforestation-free products.
This was stated by the Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartanto during a bilateral meeting with his Malaysian counterpart Minister of Agriculture and Commodities Dato’ Sri Fadillah Yusof at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Jakarta, Thursday (9/2). Airlangga assessed that the EU’s unilateral policies would have a negative impact if Indonesia and Malaysia do not work together.
“There are several pressing issues discussed in the palm oil industry dialogue to propose a common approach that enables coordinated action. We agree to continue to protect the palm oil sector by strengthening efforts and cooperation to overcome discrimination against palm oil and responding to the increasing unilateral policies affecting the palm oil industry,” he said.