medcom.id, Jakarta: Indonesia is ready for full implementation of Timber Legality Verification System (SVLK) stipulated in the Voluntary Partnership Agreement on Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT-VPA) with the European Union (EU).
Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi mentioned the agreement has been signed since 2013. "Now is the time for the full implementation," Retno said in the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Jakarta, Thursday (5/12).
Indonesia and the EU agreed for full implementation of SVLK during President Joko Widodo's visit to Brussels last month. "This is our asset," Retno continued.
If the plan goes smoothly, Indonesia will be the first country in the world to begin FLEGT licensing
Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya mentioned the full implementation of SVLK means Indonesia will only export legal timber. "It will eradicate illegal logging," Siti said.
She added that legal timber will be easier to enter foreign market such as the EU, the United States
Minister of Trade Thomas Lembong and Minister of Industry Saleh Husin said their ministries also committed for the plan.
"This is the best agreement that we ever have. We can build trust with other countries and at the same time improve our standards," Lembong said.
Officials from Indonesia and the EU will hold Joint Implementing Committee (JIC) meeting in Brussels next week to determine the exact date for the full implementation of SVLK.
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