PALMOILMAGAZINE, KUALA LUMPUR — Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arif Havas Oegroseno, underscored the importance of developing sustainable palm oil trade to maintain competitiveness in the European Union (EU) market. Speaking virtually at the RSPO Annual Roundtable Conference on Sustainable Palm Oil (RT2025) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Tuesday (5 November 2025), he addressed more than 800 participants from RSPO member countries.
Oegroseno emphasized that sustainable trade not only strengthens palm oil’s position as a leading global commodity but also improves the livelihoods of Indonesian smallholders. He noted that the implementation of sustainability principles and criteria must remain a cornerstone of Indonesia’s palm oil industry development.
“Sustainable development can empower smallholders and ensure that Indonesian palm oil meets the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) requirements,” he said, as reported by beige-heron-208544.hostingersite.com during the event.
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The Deputy Minister also acknowledged the challenges faced by smallholders in meeting EUDR requirements—particularly the obligation to provide polygon maps of plantation areas. He compared these hurdles to those faced by European cattle farmers, who also rely on forested lands for their operations.
“The challenges faced by Indonesia’s smallholders are similar to those of cattle farmers in the EU,” he remarked.
Beyond palm oil, Oegroseno highlighted that other commodities, such as coffee, encounter similar issues. Although EU authorities have stated that the EUDR should not burden farmers, technical requirements—especially polygon mapping—remain a significant obstacle for exporters and small producers.
The discussion, moderated by Professor Simon SC Tay, was part of the session titled “Sustainable Trade Pathways for Palm Oil” at RT2025. The event served as a key platform for global stakeholders, governments, and industry leaders to exchange insights and explore solutions to advance sustainable palm oil trade. (P1)
