Photo courtesy of the Belarusian Agriculture and Food Ministry
MINSK, 23 May (BelTA) - Participants of the first online meeting of the Belarusian-Indonesian joint working group on agriculture agreed to expand agricultural cooperation. Among the promising areas mentioned during the event were the increase and diversification of supplies of meat and dairy products, export of mineral fertilizers, and exchange of advanced solutions in the agro-industrial complex, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Agriculture and Food Ministry.
The meeting, led by Deputy Agriculture and Food Minister - Director of the Veterinary and Food Supervision Department Ivan Smilgin and Director of the Bureau of International Cooperation of the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture Ade Candradijaya, was organized with the participation of the agencies of the two countries. The Indonesian working group included employees of key government agencies and business representatives, which emphasized the high importance of the dialogue. The parties discussed prospects for expanding trade and economic cooperation, issues of product certification, opportunities for increasing supply volumes and launching joint projects.
“The first meeting is an important step towards strengthening our cooperation and confirming our common interest in developing mutually beneficial relations. I am confident that this work will lay the foundation for new promising projects for the two countries. I would like to note the high interest of Belarusian milk processing companies in increasing the volume of supplies to the Indonesian market,” Ivan Smilgin stressed.
According to the Agriculture and Food Ministry, in 2024, trade between Belarus and Indonesia amounted to 137.8% to the level of 2023. Last year, Belarusian exports to this Asian country grew by 14.8%, while in January - March 2025 the growth made up 16.9% over the same period of the previous year. Indonesia imported Belarusian dairy products, while Belarus imported vegetable oils, cocoa butter, and fish.
During the partnership dialogue, Belarusian specialists emphasized the potential of the national agro-industrial complex, featuring modern production facilities, high quality products and advanced technological experience. Domestic enterprises are ready to offer Indonesian buyers not only meat and dairy products, including halal products, but also mineral fertilizers and advanced solutions in the agro-industrial complex. Thus, the Agriculture and Food Ministry expressed interest in increasing trade and deepening partnership through the exchange of experience, joint scientific research, and implementation of investment projects. There are opportunities to support business initiatives through various mechanisms.
“Joint work is aimed at strengthening trade ties and creating a basis for long-term strategic cooperation in the agro-industrial complex. Growing export indicators testify to the close cooperative ties between the countries and indicate a steady trend towards their expansion,” the Agriculture and Food Ministry commented on the outcome of the discussion on the prospects of Belarusian-Indonesian cooperation in the agro-industrial sector.
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