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Kalla criticizes palm oil discrimination at BRF in China
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Vice President Jusuf Kalla (left) meets China's President Xi Jinping in Beijing, on Thursday, April 25. (Antara/M. Irfan Ilmie)
V
ice President Jusuf Kalla has spoken out strongly against what he described as discrimination and negative campaigns against Indonesian palm oil under the pretext of environmental conservation, arguing that it should be put to an end because it hampers the country's ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Kalla addressed the issue in a speech during the Leaders Roundtable Belt and Road Forum (BRF) II in Beijing, which was held with the theme “Promoting Green and Sustainable Development to Implement The UN 2030 Agenda”.
“This discriminatory measure is conducted under the pretext of sustainability,” Kalla said at the forum according to a statement issued by the Vice Presidential Office. “At the same time, these sustainability issues have been taken seriously by [palm oil] producing countries with data.”
Unfortunately, Kalla said, none of the counter arguments made by palm oil producing countries were listened to by their detractors.
He said around 16 million people were involved in the palm oil industry, as farmers or smallholders, meaning the industry made a significant contribution to Indonesian’s ability to achieve the United Nations’ SDGs.
“The discriminatory measures [against the palm oil industry] continue and will certainly affect Indonesia’s progress in achieving the SDGs. Therefore, we must fight against this discrimination,” Kalla said.
Indonesia, the world’s largest palm oil producer, has faced negative campaigns against the commodity, especially from European Union member countries, which are major importers.
