Strengthening our agricultural partnership with Indonesia: An Agriculture Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in Jakarta on Friday by the Federal Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia and the Indonesian Minister of Agriculture. (Pictured above: Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia David Littleproud and Indonesian Minister of Agriculture Dr Syahrul Yasin Limpo at the signing of an agricultural MoU in Jakarta last week.)
Mr Littleproud’s three-day visit culminated in the signing of the Indonesia-Australia Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Agricultural Cooperation. He met with key ministers including the Indonesian Minister for Agriculture and the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and the Minister for Manpower, as well as Indonesian agribusiness representatives.
The Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA) entered into force eighteen months ago. While that provides the framework for trade, the new MoU adds the mechanism giving it practical application.
Indonesia is Australia’s fourth-largest agriculture, fisheries and forestry export market, valued at $2.9 billion in the 2020-21 year. It is Australia’s largest market for wheat, largest market for live cattle, and fifth-largest market for beef. The two-way trade for the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors was worth $4.07 billion.
The MoU has an implementing Work Group with four taskforces which will focus on livestock and animal products, crop and plant products, modern systems and processes, and agricultural research and education.
“Indonesia is a highly respected agricultural partner for Australia and that relationship will continue to go from strength to strength,” Minister Littleproud said. “Through the three days I was able to raise a number of trade and market access issues of interest to Australia and reiterated my commitment to work with Indonesia to ensure both countries can take full advantage of the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.”
Mr Littleproud’s itinerary included visits to Bogasari Flour Mill, the largest integrated flour mill in Indonesia, and one of Australia’s single largest agricultural commodity customers in Indonesia. He also visited one of Indonesia’s premier high-end supermarket chains, Ranch Market, where specialty Australian produce is sold, and had meetings with Indonesian agribusiness representatives from the horticulture, grains, red meat and live cattle sectors.
The Minister described cooperation as being the bedrock of the relationship between the two countries, with Australia and Indonesia partnering on initiatives to advance agricultural development, support food security, and build robust agri-food sectors on both sides.
Under the MoU, the two nations will cooperate to facilitate mutually beneficial trade – it is being hailed as a win-win for both countries.
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