Indonesian timber export to Europe increases

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The export of Indonesian wood logs and timber products to several European countries increased in last six months since the signing of FLEGT Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPA). Indonesian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the European Union, Arif Havas Oegroseno said that the value increased 7.2 percent from 242.8 million USD to 260.3 million USD.

"We hope the FLEGT-VPA agreement will boost the export value 10-25 percent this year," Oegroseno said recently.

FLEGT-VPA aims to stop illegal timber trade. It ensures that Indonesia can only export its legal wood logs and timber products to Europe. Indonesia is the first Asian country, which signed the agreement. It gives a comparative advantage to Indonesian forest products, including wood crafts from small and medium enterprises to compete with other countries in European market.

FLEGT-VPA implementation can be used as one of barometers of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Indonesia and European Union.