Malaysia-Indonesia mission to the European Union to be in May - DPM Fadillah

JAKARTA: Malaysia's joint mission with Indonesia to the European Union (EU) to deal with the bloc's restrictions on the entry of various commodity products will be carried out in May, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

Fadillah who is also the Plantation and Commodities Minister said Malaysia will inform the EU about the reforestation programme and Malaysia's Forestry Policy which includes sustainable forest management, conservation and biodiversity protection.

"In Malaysia we already have a policy not to open new forests other than what has been designated," he told the media after holding a meeting with Indonesia's Trade Minister Dr Zulkifli Hasan here.

He said the replanting of forest species in the 'community farming' programme in Malaysia is actively under way.

Both also discussed the role of the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) to bring the issue of discriminatory trade barriers against palm oil and rubber producing countries to the Asean level.

Reportedly, seven commodities namely palm oil, cattle, wood, soy, cocoa, coffee, and rubber, that were cultivated or reared on land that was subject to deforestation or forest degradation will be prohibited from entering the EU market once the legislation is approved by the European Parliament.

Fadillah was also informed by Zulkifli about the 'Border Trade Agreement' and 'Border Crossing Agreement' between Indonesia and Malaysia which will be concluded soon.

He believes the agreement will facilitate cross-border trade between Indonesia and Malaysia, especially Sabah and Sarawak, as well as facilitate the entry of human resources from Indonesia in the oil palm sector in Sarawak.

Sarawak now exports electricity generated from hydroelectric dams to West Kalimantan and has been given the opportunity to build a hydroelectric dam in East Kalimantan, he said.

Meanwhile, Fadillah said Malaysia will host the International Tripartite Rubber Council (ITRC) Ministerial Meeting in June.

The meeting involving the main natural rubber producing countries -- Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand -- will be preceded by technical committee level discussions in February, he said.

The CPOPC ministerial meeting will be held in May, of which Malaysia is the chairman this year.

Fadillah and his delegation are in Jakarta in conjunction with a three-day working visit ending today.

-- BERNAMA