In Addition To Wheat And Soybeans, Indonesia Opens Opportunities For Import Of Cow Milk From The US

JAKARTA - Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Amran Sulaiman revealed that the Indonesian government also opens opportunities to import milk from the United States (US). Currently, imports will be focused on wheat and soybean commodities.

"Susu juga bisa. Kita lihat nyata nanti. Tetapi (yang pasti) soy with wheat, katanya ditemui di Kantor Kemenko Pangan, Jakarta, Jumat, 25 Juli.

Although open to international trade cooperation, Amran emphasized that imports will only be carried out if domestic supplies are insufficient.

The government, continued Amran, will balance global market openness with domestic production.

The goal is to protect local farmers.

"So the government is very good. So, whatever we import, it must protect agriculture. There must be a recommendation from the Ministry of Agriculture," he said.

For your information, the agreed value of agricultural imports from the US is 4.5 billion US dollars or equivalent to Rp73.47 trillion (assuming an exchange rate of Rp16,314 per US dollar).

Previously, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartanto said Indonesia had been importing food from the US for commodities that were not produced domestically such as soybeans, wheat, and cotton.

"The commodity is used for the needs of food production (Mamin) in order to maintain volatile food," Airlangga said at a press conference, Thursday, July 24.

Airlangga said that the application of import licensing and commodity balances was more aimed at regulating supply and demand mechanisms.

"So that the implementation of food imports is carried out in accordance with national needs," he explained.