MALAYSIA EXPLORES INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN INDONESIA'S AGRI SECTOR

By Ahmad Fuad Yahya

JAKARTA, Jan 15 (Bernama) -- Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister
Noh Omar and a delegation of senior government officials as well as those
from government-linked companies today started a series of discussions to
explore investment opportunities in the field of agriculture in Indonesia.

The first event in the week-long working visit to the republic was a meeting
between Noh and his counterpart Ir Suswono where they exchanged views on
policies related to agriculture.

Noh said the discussion this morning went well and that it was a prelude to
the ministerial-level Joint Committee Meeting (JCM) on cooperation in the field
of agriculture, scheduled here this year.

Malaysia and Indonesia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on
cooperation in the field of agriculture at the D-8 Ministers' Meeting on Food
Security in Kuala Lumpur in February, last year.

"Among areas of cooperation included in the memorandum are on food crops
industry as well as on livestock.

"The cooperation between Malaysia and Indonesia is expected to speed up the
development of food crops and livestock industry, and this, in turn, will help
transform Malaysia's agricultural sector," he said.

Among the cooperation which could be expected was in the field of research
and
production of hybrid padi and corn as well as in the management of livestock
farms, he said.

Noh said apart from benefits in terms of technology and increasing the
production capacity and quality, the cooperation could also be an avenue to
promote commercial activities between the private sectors of both countries.

Earlier Suswono said Indonesia welcomed Malaysia's interest as the republic
was now opening its food management sector.

Indonesia, he said, would not limit the amount of investment in the food
industry.

Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia Syed Mushe Afdzaruddin Syed Hassan
accompanied Noh at the meeting.

In the Malaysian delegation are Agriculture and Agro-based Industry
Ministry's Secretary-General Mohd Mokhtar Ismail, Agriculture
Director-General Datuk Roseley Khalid, Veterinary Services Director-General
Dr Abdul Aziz Jamaluddin, Fisheries Director-General Junaidi Che
Ayub and Mardi Director-General Dr Abd Shukor Abd Rahman.

Also in the delegation are three senior officers of Sime Darby Plantation
namely its Senior Vice-President Khairuddin Hashim, Deputy President I Mustamir
Mohamad and Deputy President II Ahmad Zahidi Ahmad Daud.

On Thursday night, Noh and the delegation will meet the Indonesian minister
in charge of fisheries, Dr Fadel Muhammad.

On Friday, the Malaysian delegation will proceed to Makassar and later to
Gorontalo on Saturday and Bandar Lampung on Sunday.

-- BERNAMA