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Martin Vorel regulatory frameworks and sustainable forest management
practices, reputational challenges persist making credible,
data-driven, communication increasingly important.
A newly signed MoU between the Ministry’s Directorate
General of Sustainable Forest Management, the Association
of Indonesia Forest Concession Holders (APHI) and the

Indonesian Forestry Certification Cooperation (IFCC) aims
to promote both mandatory certification and the voluntary
IFCC/PEFC scheme as tools to demonstrate traceability and
responsible resource management.
The IFCC highlighted the growing relevance of international
SMEs, is facing growing pressure from global competition standards as Indonesia prepares for stricter global regulations
and increasingly strict international regulations. such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
In response, the Indonesian Furniture and Craft Industry
Association (HIMKI) has urged the government to strengthen Companies continue readiness for EUDR despite delay

industry protection, improve product traceability and reinforce Indonesian forestry businesses are preparing to comply with
the ‘Made in Indonesia’ brand. the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), even
HIMKI Chairman Abdul Sobur highlighted the heavy though its introduction has been delayed by one year.
compliance burden posed by measures such as the EUDR and APHI Chairman Soewarso said the postponement provides
called for differentiated requirements and stronger government valuable time for companies to study the requirements and
support to ensure local businesses remain competitive. improve their systems to meet the regulation’s strict sustainability
To safeguard the sector, HIMKI recommends creating a and traceability standards.

national traceability and single-documentation system, offering To support this effort APHI is collaborating with the
financing and certification assistance and harmonising timber Indonesian Forestry Certification Cooperation (IFCC) to expand
regulations to reduce bureaucratic overlap. the adoption of PEFC certification which can help Indonesian
The Association is also pushing for preferential export forestry products gain wider acceptance in the European market.
tariffs, strict enforcement of anti-dumping measures and action Currently, only 93 of APHI’s more than 400 members hold
against the influx of cheap imported products. such certification but the number continues to grow.
Despite current challenges, Sobur expressed confidence in
the industry’s future, citing Indonesia’s unique cultural creativity IEU-CEPA could lift exports to EU by over 50%
as a lasting competitive advantage. Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs

anticipates the Indonesia–European Union Comprehensive
Strengthening forest-certification to meet evolving Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) could increase
global regulations the country’s exports to the EU by over 50 percent.
Indonesia is intensifying efforts to strengthen the global Secretary, Susiwijono Moegiarso, highlighted the significant
competitiveness of its forest products by enhancing policy impact while the Minister of Trade, Budi Santoso, noted that
synergies with internationally recognised certification. ratification is targeted for January 2026 paving the way for
Officials emphasised that, while Indonesia has strong the agreement’s implementation.