President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo welcomed Thursday morning 13 foreign ambassadors who are to commence their work in Indonesia, including eight who are directly involved with enhancing Indonesian trade with the European Union.

Nine resident and four non-resident envoys submitted their letters of credence to the President in a ceremony at Merdeka Palace, marking the start of their official duties in the archipelago.

Discussions over strengthening trade and investment as well as international cooperation were brought to the table as the ambassadors from the four continents took turns speaking with Jokowi and Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi on the verandah of the Palace, symbolic of the start of an ambassadorship in Indonesia.

Of the 13 envoys, eight are ambassadors from European countries, including Jari Sinkari from Finland, Marina Berg from Sweden, Kurt Kunz from Switzerland, Olivia Leslie from Ireland, Mehmed Halilovic from Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as Martha Mavrommati from Cyprus.

With the ambassadors whose countries are members of the EU, President Jokowi discussed the need to intensify the ongoing negotiations for the Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (I-EU CEPA), Retno said.

“A note [from Indonesia] is concerning the issue of palm oil, which must be included in the negotiations,” Retno told journalists after the officiating ceremony.

Indonesia, the world’s biggest producer of palm oil, has taken one of the strongest stances ever against a Europe-wide policy approved this year by the European Parliament to phase out the use of crop-based biofuels by 2021, for fear of declining palm oil exports to the Old Continent.

Jakarta has continuously fielded high-ranking delegates to lobby the EU following the latter’s plan to restrict imports, which Indonesia has said could threaten the livelihood of at least 16 million palm oil farmers in the country.

In addition to the business relationship with Europe, discussions with Belgian Ambassador Stephane de Loecker and German Ambassador Peter Schoof covered issues that Indonesia will raise at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) next year.

The three countries, alongside South Africa and the Dominican Republic are to serve on the Council for two years beginning Jan. 1, 2019.

Retno said Indonesia had rehearsed alongside Germany and Belgium the coordination of issues that might arise during their tenures at the UNSC, including possible policy stances.

“For instance, we are partnering on the promotion of issues like multilateralism and peacekeeping operations, including the security of peacekeepers in the latter,” she said.

The President also welcomed three ambassadors from African countries: Ghanaian Ambassador Akua Sekyiwa Ahenkora, Beninese Ambassador Makarimi Abissola Adechoubou and Lesothan Ambassador Maj. Gen. Lineo Poopa.

During verandah talks with Jokowi, the African envoys invited Indonesian business players to invest in infrastructure development in their respective countries, the minister continued, and expressed their appreciation for Indonesia for having initiated closer economic relations with African nations through the Indonesia-Africa Forum in April and the upcoming Indonesia-Africa Infrastructure Dialogue next year.

Jakarta has started with proposals on the drafting of preferential trade agreements with African countries which, if finalized, might also be able to support Indonesia’s efforts to maximize exports, as well as the expansion of Indonesian state-owned enterprises.

“[Indonesia] will continue to focus on Africa as we have said that Africa is our priority as a non-traditional market that we will continuously develop,” she said.

Rounding off the group of foreign diplomats were Uruguay Ambassador Gerardo Prato and Jordan Ambassador Abdallah Suliman Abdallah Anu Romman, with the latter having raised in discussions with Jokowi joint efforts to support the independence of Palestine.

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