Jokowi shares concern over discriminatory EU rules with Czech PM
19.04.2023 (Antara News) - Bogor, W Java (ANTARA) - Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) expressed his concern over several discriminatory regulations issued by the European Union (EU) while receiving a courtesy call from the Prime Minister (PM) of the Czech Republic, Petr Fiala.
"I also conveyed about several discriminatory EU regulations and the importance of pushing for the completion of the Indonesia-EU CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) negotiation," Jokowi informed at a joint press conference with PM Fiala at the Bogor Presidential Palace here on Tuesday.
The joint press conference took place after a bilateral meeting between the two countries.
He has made statements regarding the EU’s discriminatory regulations on several earlier occasions. While attending the 40th anniversary of the ASEAN-EU Partnership in Manila, the Philippines, in 2017, he asked the European Union to stop discriminating against palm oil products.
He said that the resolution of the European Union Parliament and the regulations of several European countries regarding palm oil and deforestation did not only hamper the economy of palm oil-producing countries, but also damaged the image of palm oil producers.
Meanwhile, the Indonesia-EU CEPA negotiation, which was launched on July 18, 2016, has entered its 13th round. It was held in Bali in February 2023 and focused on the discussion concerning patents, trademarks, industrial designs, and copyrights. Furthermore, at the joint press conference, Fiala said that he believed that Tuesday’s meeting will bolster bilateral relations between Czech and Indonesia.
He noted that the Czech Republic’s imports from Indonesia have reached US$637 million (Rp9.46 billion)
"With Mr. President (Jokowi), today, we discussed our successful cooperation and I believe that we found new areas, new fields, that we can cooperate more,” he remarked.
He brought a number of Czech business representatives with him during the courtesy call.
“They (the Czech companies) would like to start or expand their business with partners from your country (Indonesia),” he added.
Fiala’s visit was a follow-up to his bilateral meeting with President Jokowi in Brussels, Belgium, on December 14, 2022.