The UK Government, in collaboration with the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, and supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has launched the Forest, Agriculture, and Sustainable Trade (FAST) programme, with the aim of supporting Indonesia's food security and green growth. The programme's primary objectives are to enhance the resilience of palm oil and cocoa supply chains, promote sustainable trade in agricultural commodities, mitigate the environmental impact of these industries, and enhance the standard of life for smallholder farmers. The FAST initiative is a continuation of the joint leadership by the UK and Indonesia in the area of sustainable commodity trade, as seen through their joint role as co-chairs of the Forest Agriculture and Commodity Trade (FACT) committee since the COP 26 conference.
The FAST initiative is significant in demonstrating the UK's commitment to deepen the strategic partnership with Indonesia, as agreed upon by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer last year. The Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto emphasised that FAST is a strategic initiative that will strengthen Indonesia's position as a global leader in sustainable palm oil and cocoa trade. The FAST partnership is crucial to ensure that economic growth is achieved in harmony with environmental protection and the welfare of smallholders, and that sustainable palm oil and cocoa plantations, low-carbon development, resilient and sustainable climate adaptation, and the strengthening of the domestic palm oil and cocoa industry are realised through this cooperation.
