New License Allows More Indonesian Timber Export to EU Countries
Jakarta. Indonesia and the European Union have inaugurated the Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade Voluntary Partnership Agreement, or FLEGT-VPA, a new license which will make it easier for Indonesian companies to export wood products to EU countries.
"This new FLEGT license will allow us to make the most Indonesian wood products' competitive advantage in the European Union market,” foreign minister Retno Marsudi said in a statement on Monday (28/11).
The first of its kind in the world, the FLEGT-VPA certification will speed up export of sustainably-sourced timber from Indonesia to the European Union.
It will also help Indonesia step up its forest governance and combat illegal logging.
The new license was inaugurated by the minister, EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and EU Commissioner Karmenu Vella.
Indonesia is the EU’s third largest wood exporter, sending a total of €485 million ($513 million) worth of wood products to EU countries in 2015.
According to the European Timber Trade Federation, 23 million hectares of forest land, 2700 timber mills and 1800 timber exporters in Indonesia have also received the EU's Timber Legality Verification System (SVLK) certificate.
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