Airlangga Reveals The Potential For Milk Imports From New Zealand

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto. (Photo: Doc. Coordinating Ministry for the Economy)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto met New Zealand Trade Minister Todd McClay on the sidelines of the OECD Ministerial Level Meeting.

During the meeting, New Zealand expressed its support for Indonesia's accession to OECD.

Todd McClay considers Indonesia's entry into OECD will bring added value to Indonesia and of course the OECD itself.

Airlangga said that Indonesia is committed to integrating the transformation policy into the Roadmap (Roadmap) Accession of OECD.

"Indonesia is also asking for concrete support from New Zealand to speed up the accession process," he explained in his statement, quoted Friday, May 3.

Trade Minister McClay also appreciated the excellent trade and economic relations. And congratulations on Indonesia's success as Chair of ASEAN last year while emphasizing the importance of RCEP for New Zealand.

Meanwhile, both parties hope that each Government can continue to improve efforts to deepen trade, especially for holticulture products such as fruit. It is acknowledged that fruit product imports that have been certified from Indonesia have contributed to product diversification for the people of New Zealand.

On the other hand, both parties agreed that barriers to market access to horticultural products must be addressed concretely. In this case, Indonesia conveyed developments related to the quarantine aspect in the new import regulations.

In addition, Airlangga also conveyed the potential increase in demand in Indonesia considering that the upcoming government will promote a free milk program.

The meeting also discussed the development of the Halal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

Indonesia and New Zealand have signed an MoU between BPJPH and New Zealand MPA, as well as a Balik Recognition Agreement (MRA) with three New Zealand's Admittedly Halal Certification Agency (LHLN) in November 2023.

Airlangga said this MoU was a significant step forward in facilitating New Zealand's halal products into the Indonesian market.

The two ministers also agreed to intensify cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) and New Zealand forums to support Indonesia in the process of joining CPTPP in order to expand market access outside the Indo-Pacific region.