13/07/2011 (NIS News Bulletin) - The Netherlands and Indonesia are going to work together for the next five years to enhance sustainable production and trade of goods like cocoa, coffee, tea, spices, palm oil, timber and fish.

Development Aid State Secretary Ben Knapen and Indonesia's Minister of Trade and Fisheries have signed a joint declaration giving the programme the green light. The five-year programme will be implemented by the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH), a Dutch project in which businesses, public authorities, civil society organisations, knowledge institutions and local farmers in developing countries work together.

"IDH's objectives are to reduce environmental damage, improve the position of farmers, increase production and improve the quality of agricultural produce," said Knapen. He had already decided to increase IDH's general budget from 20 to 100 million euros for the government's current term of office. The IDH has made Indonesia a priority country.