JAKARTA-President Director of the Indonesia Oil Palm Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS) Dono Boestami stressed the need for the Government and businesspeople to prepare for litigation in WTO over palm oil discrimination by the European Union (EU).

INDONESIAN Palm Oil Board (IPOB), The Solvent Extractors\' Association of India (SEA) and Solidaridad Network Asia Limited (SNAL) held a joint working group meeting to discuss palm oil trade cooperation. The meeting, held at JW Mariott Hotel Medan, Indonesia, Tuesday (26/3/2019), was aimed to elaborate challenges in palm oil trade as well as to recognize sustainable palm oil practices in Indonesia. The meeting discussed several key topics: Campaign to promote and create awareness on good properties of palm oil to Indian consumers as well as to counter negative publicity to tarnish the image of palm oil in the world. Issues related to harmonization of tariff. Developing the concept of celebrating International Palm Oil Day. India has become a big producer and exporter of sugar.

MALAYSIA may retaliate against a European Union plan to curb palm oil use by purchasing new fighter jets from China instead of European arms companies, its leader said on Sunday (March 24). The South-east Asian country is the world\`s second largest palm oil producer after neighbouring Indonesia, and recently threatened to challenge the bloc\`s plan to phase out its use in biofuels at the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Both Malaysia and Indonesia have been at loggerheads with EU lawmakers over the crop\`s cultivation, which has caused rampant deforestation and destruction of wildlife. In his strongest statement yet on the proposed curbs, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said his country could look elsewhere to upgrade its ageing air force fleet of Russian Mig-29 fighters - in effect abandoning plans to purchase France\`s Rafale jet or the Eurofighter Typhoon. \`If they keep on taking action against us, we will think of buying airplanes from China or any other country,\` he was quoted as saying by the official Bernama news agency. But the premier said he was not \`declaring war\` on the EU, as his country needed goods from the bloc, many members of which are among Malaysia\`s top trading partners. Tun Mahathir\`s remarks come ahead of a five-day international defence exhibition starting on Monday on the resort island of Langkawi, where representatives of global weapons manufacturers have gathered. Any EU palm oil curbs could seriously hurt farmers who represent an important voter base in both Malaysia and Indonesia. Both countries are struggling to spur demand in palm oil, which is used in everything from soap to chocolate. French lawmakers recently voted to remove palm oil from the country\`s biofuel scheme starting from next year.

Indonesian government has invited the European Union-based firms to explain its position concerning discrimination against palm oil by the EU. The explanation was given by Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Panjaitan and Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs A.M.

The Government has called for the support of the European Union-based businesses to voice Indonesia\'s concern on negotiation and diplomacy to challenge the EU\'s discrimination against palm oil. As reported earlier, on 13 March 2019 European Commission adopted Delegated Regulation no.

The Government has enacted Finance Minister Regulation No 22/PMK.04/2019 concerning Rule of Palm Oil, CPO, and Its Derivative Products Export.

The Government of Indonesia, Monday (18/3/2019), responded to the European Union\'s discrimination against palm oil, demanded equal treatment on this national commodity in the EU\'s market. The Government of Indonesia strongly opposes the decision of the European Commission to adopt the Draft Delegated Regulation which classifies palm oil as unsustainable "high-risk\` ILUC vegetable oil based on a unilateral and arbitrary scientifically flawed standard. Indonesia, the world\'s largest palm oil producer, argues that the EU\'s Delegated Regulation is an outright discrimination and a disguised protectionist measure against palm oil. Following is the 10 point of the response as published on attachment to the Press Release No.

The Government of Indonesia, Monday (18/3/2019), responded to the European Union\'s discrimination against palm oil, demanded equal treatment on this national commodity in the EU\'s market. "The Government of Indonesia strongly opposes the decision of the European Commission to adopt the Draft Delegated Regulation which classifies palm oil as unsustainable high-risk ILUC vegetable oil," Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution said as he chaired a coordination meeting to discuss the EU\'s Delegated Regulation at his office, Monday (18/3/2019). On a press release, the Government said the response was a follow-up to the agreement of the 6th Ministerial Meeting Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) on 28 February 2019.

Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) denounced European Union (EU) for its decision to phase out palm oil biodiesel which is based on a unilateral and arbitrary scientifically flawed standard.

THE Indonesian government has made a strong commitment to fight discrimination against palm oil even though the European Commission has decided to remove palm oil from the country\'s biofuel scheme.

A number of Indonesian diplomats visited oil palm plantation and mills in Belitung Island to improve their knowledge of sustainable palm oil.

MINISTRY of Finance has initiated loan disbursement program for small and micro-scale industries in villages.