India, Malaysia, and Indonesia Team Up to Fight Western Countries' Black Campaign Against Palm Oil

TEMPO.CO, Mumbai, India - Palm oil giants Malaysia and Indonesia are teaming up with India to fight what they call a black campaign targeted at the commodity.

The three countries promised to jointly promote the positive benefits of palm oil to the global community at the 2nd Sustainable Vegetable Oils Conference (2nd SVOC) which was held at the ITC Maratha Hotel, Mumbai, India, September 27, 2023, last Wednesday.

Secretary General of the Malaysian Ministry of Agriculture and Commodities, Dato' Haji Mad Zaidi Mohd Karli, stated that Malaysia had formed a special body to promote Malaysian palm oil, namely the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), especially regarding aspects of security, safety, efficiency, and the benefits of palm oil.

"We even include the promotion into an Upin-Ipin cartoon from Malaysia, there was an episode that talks about the benefits of palm oils," said Dato' Haji Mad Zaidi Mohd Karli.

Jerry Sambuaga, Indonesian Deputy Minister of Trade, also present at the 2nd SVOC event, added that there are still many Western countries carrying out black campaigns related to palm oil.

"This is something that we have to eradicate, eliminate and we also need to tell the whole world that if the Western Countries want to carry out black campaigns, that is something we cannot tolerate," Jerry said.

Jerry added that the Indonesian government, as the largest palm oil producer, is ready to provide factual data to the public, which contradicted the black campaigns carried out by several Western countries.

(From left) The Secretary General of the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities Dato` Haji Mad Zaidi Mohd Karli, Deputy Minister of Trade Dr. Jerry Sambuaga, and The Managing Director of Solidaridad Asia, Shatadru Chattopadhyay at the Press Conference of 2nd Sustainable Vegetable Oils Conference (2nd SVOC) at ITC Maratha Hotel, Mumbai, India. (Photo: TEMPO.CO / Petir Garda Bhwana)

Shatadru Chattopadhayay, the Managing Director of Solidaridad Asia and a partner organization of the Government of India, said that India and Malaysia have also agreed to collaborate together under Solidaridad to promote the benefits and sustainable trade of palm oil since 2019.

However, he admitted that he was still waiting for further efforts from Malaysia and Indonesia to promote the benefits of palm oil for consumers.

This is because there are many misunderstandings about palm oil that have developed in society, including in India, which is one of the main markets for the two palm oil-producing countries.

According to Shatadru, the size of the Indian market needs to be considered for Indonesia and Malaysia to be exploited massively so that palm oil can become the primary choice for the people of India.

"Given the size of the Indian market, which is bigger than the entire European market, there is a need for more intense involvement in the Indian market to promote the role of small farmers, its benefits for health and that will make palm oil more affordable and the vegetable oil of choice for the people in India,” said Shatadru.

PETIR GARDA BHWANA

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