TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Trade Ministry focuses on developing several new export markets for palm oil products and its derivatives, given the negative sentiment that still continues from one of the main markets, the European Union.

“We are trying to find other countries outside the main market,” said the Ministry of Trade’s Director General of National Export Development, Arlinda, in Jeddah on Thursday, Nov. 29.

According to Arlinda, palm oil products can be transferred to non-traditional countries. “For non-traditional markets, we might be able to focus on countries on the border of the Persian Gulf, namely Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar,” she said.

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The director general stated that the dispute of Qatar with other Arab countries could be an opportunity for Indonesia to fulfill the needs of the country, as well as the countries in South Asia, such as India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.

The ministry also targets Chile, which is adjacent to Latin America. “In Eastern Europe, we target Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and other post-Soviet states,” Arlinda said.

In Africa, the Trade Ministry seeks to negotiate with Mozambique, Tunisia, Morocco, and Algeria, which has a free trade deal with Europe.

Regarding the palm oil negative campaign, Arlinda said that Indonesia is trying to remain calm and prove that the allegations are not true.

ANTARA