MALAYSIA AND INDONESIA INK MOU ON AGRICULTURE COOPERATION

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 27 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Indonesia have agreed to establish a joint committee at the ministerial level to plan, coordinate, monitor and review the implementation of the cooperation on agricultural pact.

Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta formalised a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on
agricultural cooperation, on the sidelines of the Developing Eight (D8)
Ministers' Meeting on Food Security here Thursday.

The MoU is to strengthen, promote and develop existing bilateral cooperation
between the two countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefit in food
crops, horticulture, livestock, agribusiness, agro industry and other areas
mutually agreed by both countries.

Malaysia's Agriculture and Agro-based Minister Mustapa Mohamed said
the joint committee would meet annually or at a time mutually agreed upon,
alternately in Indonesia and Malaysia.

"We also agreed to conduct the first Joint Committee Meeting this year," he
said after the signing of the MoU.

Malaysia was represented by Mustapa and Indonesia by its Agriculture
Minister, Dr Ir Anton Apriyanto.


Malaysia and Indonesia also have agreed to establish two working groups,
namely Working Group on Crops and Working Group on Livestock, at the officials'
level to monitor and ensure efficient implementation of projects identified
under the MoU.

Mustapa said the MoU would give emphasis to private sector involvement
to undertake joint cooperation projects as well as joint research and training
on agricultural subjects of common interest.

Under the MoU, both countries agreed to promote joint investment and trade;
develop the exchange of technical know-how of farm machinery, livestock rearing
and e quipment and transfer technology in the agricultural
sector.

Dr Apriyanto expressed confidence that through the MoU Malaysia could become
a producer of agricultural produce such as rice and corn, like Indonesia.

-- BERNAMA