*The National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) said it may get $1 billion loan from Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to finance the infrastructure projects in Indonesia. Wismana Adi Suryabrata, Bappenas deputy of financing, said the loan would be part of a $39.8 billion financing plan from multilateral and bilateral loans for 116 infrastructure projects to be developed by 2019. Indonesia is the eighth largest shareholder in AIIB, having committed $672 million of capital for AIIB in five years.
*Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Resources Rizal Ramli and Minister for Plantations and Commodities Amar Douglas Uggah Embas signed a document for the establishment of Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) witnessed by Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak. The CPOPC is aimed at promoting, developing and strengthening cooperation in palm oil industry with member countries to ensure that industry contributes more meaningfully to economic development and peoples prosperity. The Council will promote development of palm oil industry among parties in the producing countries, improve smallholders welfare and build a global sustainable palm oil framework. Besides Indonesia and Malaysia as founding countries, the CPOPC is open to all palm oil producing countries, including Brazil, Colombia, Thailand, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Uganda. For the initial operation, Indonesia and Malaysia will each contribute $5 million. The CPOPC Secretariat will be located in Jakarta.