Indonesia-Netherlands Push for Food Export Route Security from Ukraine

Menteri Luar Negeri Retno Marsudi (kanan) menyambut Menlu Belanda Wopke Hoekstra dalam Pertemuan Menteri Luar Negeri G20 di Nusa Dua, Bali, Jumat (8/7/2022). (ANTARA FOTO/Pool/Sigid Kurniawan/rwa)

DENPASAR - Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra emphasized the importance of security for food export routes from Ukraine, especially through seaports.

The two foreign ministers met on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting (FMM) in Bali.

"Both of them share the same view of the importance of supporting the efforts being carried out by the UN Secretary-General to secure food routes", said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a written statement quoted by ANTARA, Saturday, July 9, referring to the bilateral meeting of the two foreign ministers.

During the FMM, all of the G20 members expressed concern about soaring food and energy prices, sparked by the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Foreign Minister Retno said the food and energy crisis would have a major impact on developing countries, especially low-income countries and small island countries.

"There is an urgent need to overcome disruptions to the global food supply chain -- reintegrating food and fertilizer from Ukraine and Russia into the global market is very important", said Retno when delivering a press statement after the closed-door meeting.

As a solution, many G20 FMM participants expressed their support for the UN Secretary General's efforts to provide safe passage for distributing food and energy products from Russia and Ukraine, including through ports.

"Several participants underlined that food and fertilizer are not subject to sanctions and stated that they are ready to overcome practical difficulties in conducting food and fertilizer trade, including payments, insurance, logistics, and others", said Retno.

The meeting also discussed commitments to explore further G20 cooperation to strengthen food and energy security, including through the UN system or other international organizations.