Recently, the Indonesian government asked President Joseph N. Boakai to support its fight against the smear campaign allegedly targeted at palm oil, as Jakarta remains alarmed at Europe’s policy against its top commodity.
Palm oil has been subject to discrimination in the West, with criticisms accusing the sector of being responsible for deforestation, among other issues.
The European Union’s (EU) anti-deforestation law is at the center of this anti-palm oil campaign.
According to the Jakarta Globe, this law—popularly known by its acronym EUDR—will likely make it harder for Indonesian palm oil to enter the European market, as the bloc will require traders to prove that the oil does not come from deforested land.
While there are still months before the EUDR fully goes into effect this December, Indonesia is trying to gain as much support as it can.
During the 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum held in Bali, Indonesia, President Joko Widodo asked his Liberian counterpart, President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, for help in countering the smear campaigns against palm oil during a sideline meeting.
“The palm oil industry is often a target of black campaigns in the Western world, including the discriminatory EUDR policy. Indonesia continues to fight this negative campaign and hopes Liberia can also support [us],” Jokowi told Boakai during their meeting in Bali on August 26, 2024.
According to the Jakarta Globe, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo shook hands with President Boakai on the margins of the Indonesia-Africa Forum in Bali on September 2, 2024, while advocating for his cause.
Indonesian media report that the government only broadcasted the initial part of the talks, as the Liberian leader did not respond to Jokowi’s call for help to shield the palm oil sector.
The Indonesian Oil Palm Company, Golden Veroleum, visited Liberia in 2009 following an invitation to explore potential investments in the country.
According to a UN Development Programme document, oil palm production covers over 1 million hectares in Liberia.
Approximately 21.2 percent of farming households produce palm oil, and the Liberian oil sector employs over 220,000 people.
Data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) showed that Liberia exported $90.8 million worth of palm oil throughout 2022, with exports mainly going to the Netherlands.
Many believe that the Liberian delegation to Indonesia has not yielded any potential investments, while others are still anticipating significant economic prospects from the Indonesia-Africa 2nd Forum.
