President Jokowi Hopes to Increase Indonesia’s Palm Oil Export to Russia

President Jokowi meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin, on Wednesday (18/5), at Bucherov Rucey, Sochi, Russia

To begin his working visit to Sochi, Russian Federation, President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo on Wednesday (18/5) had a tête-à-tête with Russian President Vladimir Putin and led a bilateral meeting between the governments of the two countries at the residence of President Putin in Bucherov Rucey, Sochi.

During the bilateral meeting, President Jokowi expressed his hopes to his Russian counterpart so that Indonesia can increase its palm oil export to Russia.

“In the trade sector, we once again would like to ask President Putin’s support so we can increase our palm oil export to Russia,” the President said.

According to President Jokowi, palm oil is Indonesia’s biggest export to Russia with the total value of US$480 million in 2015 and has brought economic benefits for palm oil farmers in Indonesia.

“Once again, I hope that Your Excellency’s policy can increase Indonesia’s palm oil export to Russia,” President Jokowi said to President Vladimir Putin.

On that occasion, President Jokowi also said that the Indonesian Government intends to purchase buildings in Moscow to replace the buildings of the Indonesian Embassy and the official residence of the Indonesian Ambassador to Russia that are under renovation. Therefore, the President hopes that the Russian Government would facilitate the plan.

President Jokowi further said that Russia has always been Indonesia’s close friend and hopes that ties between the two countries could continue to be enhanced.

“I suppose that now we need to further promote the long standing relations between the two countries that has begun since the era of the First Indonesian President Soekarno and I hope that we can also develop economic, political, and cultural cooperation between the two countries,” the President concluded.

Joining the President during the bilateral talk were Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, and Indonesian Ambassador to Russian Federation Wahid Supriyadi. (BPMI/UN) (Naster/YM/EP)