Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia David Littleproud will today commence a three-day visit to Indonesia to strengthen agricultural trade and relations with one of Australia’s most vibrant regional partners.
Minister Littleproud said the trip would culminate in the signing of the Indonesia-Australia Memorandum of Understanding on Agricultural Cooperation.
“Indonesia is a highly respected agricultural partner for Australia and that relationship will continue to go from strength to strength,” Minister Littleproud said.
“Cooperation is the bedrock of our relationship, with Australia and Indonesia partnering on initiatives to advance agricultural development, support food security, and build robust agri-food sectors in both our countries.
“Two-way trade in agriculture, fisheries and forestry topped $4 billion in 2020-21-and it’s an export market now worth $2.9 billion to Australian farmers, fishers and foresters.
“Increasing that trade is an invaluable opportunity to put more high-quality food on tables in both our nations.
“That’s why the Australian Government is committed to building better relationships with both government and business stakeholders.
“I am very much looking forward to visiting Bogasari Flour Mill, one of Australia’s largest single customers for wheat.
“It’s businesses like these where the rubber really hits the road-where our premium produce is transformed into popular consumer products in global demand, like the world-famous Indomie noodles.
“And I especially look forward to meeting Indonesian Minister for Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo in person for the first time.
“Together we will sign the Indonesia-Australia Agricultural Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding, which will lay a strong foundation for our strategic agriculture relationship in the years to come.”
Fast Facts:
- In 2020/21, Indonesia was Australia’s 4th largest Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry export market by value (approx. $2.9bn) growing from 5th place in 2019/20. Two-way trade Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry trade between Australia and Indonesia was worth AU$4.07 billion in 2020/21.
- Indonesia is Australia’s largest market for wheat ($1.2b in 2020/21), largest market for live cattle ($584m in 2020/21), and fifth-largest market for beef ($287m in 2020/21).
- Minister Littleproud will travel to Indonesia from 25 January to 28 January, meeting a range of Indonesian agribusiness representatives alongside Indonesian Ministers, including the Indonesian Minister of Agriculture and the Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs.
- The itinerary includes:
- a site visit at Bogasari Flour Mill – the largest integrated flour mill in Indonesia, and one of Australia’s single largest agricultural commodity customers in Indonesia.
- one of Indonesia’s premier high-end supermarket chains, Ranch Market, where specialty Australian produce is sold, including red meat and stonefruit.
- meetings with Indonesian agribusiness representatives from the horticulture, grains, red meat and live cattle sectors.
