Australia's agriculture minister joining trade delegation to Indonesia to discuss market access for agricultural industries; Australia's agricultural exports to Indonesia reached AU$2.8B in 2010/2011, up 52% from 2005/2006

Andrew Rogers

CANBERRA, Australia , March 21, 2012 (press release) – Trade and Competitiveness Minister Craig Emerson and Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Senator Joe Ludwig today leave for Jakarta with a senior business delegation, on a mission aimed at broadening the trade and investment relationship with Indonesia.

The delegation, made up of representatives from the finance and agriculture industries, will meet with Indonesian Ministers and business leaders during the two-day visit.

Indonesia is already Australia’s third-largest agricultural export market, and both Ministers see considerable scope for expanding and deepening the relationship.

“Indonesia is a big part of the Asian Century growth story,” Dr Emerson said, “expanding its economy by 6.5 per cent in 2011.”

“It has a young and growing population, and its middle class is already larger than Australia’s total population.”

“Australia is perfectly positioned to meet the country’s expanding demand for food as well as for services such as financial services and education,” Dr Emerson said.

Minister Ludwig said market access, particularly for agricultural industries, would be a focus of discussion.

“The growing demand for Australian agricultural products in Indonesia presents a significant opportunity for our farmers,” Minister Ludwig said.

Australia’s agricultural exports to Indonesia reached $2.8 billion in 2010-11, up 52 per cent from 2005-06.

Dr Emerson and Minister Ludwig will hold talks with Indonesian Ministers during the visit.

These will focus on how business and government can work together to develop the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA).

Minister Ludwig will hold talks with his Ministerial counterparts to further cooperation on agriculture, fisheries and forestry. Topics will include strengthening the trade relationship, combating illegal logging, the live animal export trade and market access for horticulture imports and meat products.

Dr Emerson will also deliver a speech to the Foreign Correspondents Club in Jakarta, where he will highlight the extraordinary potential of the IA-CEPA.

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