Visit by Indonesian meat importers reflects success of recent trade show

17/11/97

A visit this week by Indonesian meat importers has demonstrated the success of the recent Focus Indonesia launch in Jakarta, Primary Industry Minister Monty House said today.

Mr House said the delegation of more than 20 members of the Indonesian Meat Importers' Association was a direct and welcome response to the Focus Indonesia project.

"There is a great deal to be gained by developing stronger relationships with our Indonesian trading partners, including potential increased exports of Western Australian agricultural, fisheries and food products," he said.

"Indonesia has been identified as an important market for WA meat, replacing the United States as WA's largest boxed beef export market.

"WA exported $12 million of boxed beef to Indonesia last financial year and it is anticipated that this market will expand."

Mr House said the objective of the visit was to establish closer business relations between Indonesian meat importers and WA's meat producers, processors and traders. The visit also provided an ideal opportunity to learn more about specific market requirements first-hand.

The delegation would meet with Agriculture Western Australia's meat program staff and the Meat Industry Partnership Group chairman Ted Brockman, as well as visiting Department of Commerce and Trade offices in Perth.

"The Indonesian Meat Importers' Association is interested in boxed beef, mutton, lamb and goat meat," the Minister said.

"The delegation will tour WAMMCO International Lamb Processing Plant and the P & O Cold Storage facilities in Spearwood, visit Clover Meats Abattoir in Waroona and E G Green and Sons in Harvey."

Mr House said WA's excellent reputation for top quality agricultural products would be reinforced during the visit.

Media contact: Nicole Trigwell (08) 4812044