Jakarta to trade palm oil for Russian fighter jets

06/08/2017 10:59 AST

The Indonesian state trading company Perusahaan Perdagangan Indonesia and the Russian state conglomerate Rostec have signed a preliminary deal to trade Sukhoi SU-35 jets for commodities such as palm oil and coffee, the Indonesian trade ministry said.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed in Moscow and further details about the expected deal will be announced in the coming days by the Indonesian trade and defence ministers, Indonesian trade ministry official Imam Pambagyo said on Sunday.

"This barter under the supervision of both governments hopefully will soon be realised through the exchange of eleven Sukhoi SU-35s and a number of Indonesian exports, starting from coffee and tea to palm oil and strategic defence products," said the trade minister Enggartiasto Lukita.

There were no details on the value of the deal or the quantity of commodities Indonesia would potentially ship to Russia.

Lukita was in Moscow for an Indonesia-Russia business forum.

Russia is currently facing a new round of US-imposed trade sanctions, while Indonesia is trying to promote its palm oil products amid threats of a cut in consumption by European Union countries.

Mr Lukita said Indonesia is trying to expand its trade and partnerships with Russia as that country is currently under a trade embargo with the United States and the EU.

Indonesia, which had a US$411 million trade surplus with Russia in 2016, aims to expand its partnership in tourism, education, energy, technology and aviation among others.

Reuters