Agricultural and fishery cooperation
Agricultural and fishery cooperation
The Indonesia and Thailand Governments, through their
Ministries of Agriculture, have been cooperating in the fields of
agriculture, fishery, food crops and horticulture, forestry and
livestock for over 20 years.
On Nov. 7, 1999, Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai pledged to
President Abdurrahman Wahid during a meeting held in Bangkok,
that the Thai government would strongly advise and caution Thai
fishing companies operating in Indonesia's waters to strictly
observe Indonesian laws and regulations, stressing a strong
desire to cooperate on maritime issues.
From Nov. 17 to Nov. 19, Indonesia's Minister of Maritime
Exploration Sarwono Kusumaatmadja discussed in Bangkok with the
Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Thailand H.E. Pongpol
Adireksarn and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand Dr.
Surin Pitsuwan on further cooperation on fishery between the two
countries.
The two Thai Ministers offered, on behalf of the Thai
Government, to Minister Sarwono the following proposals:
1. That the two governments conclude an agreement on fishery
covering two aspects:
a. Technical cooperation including maritime research, survey and
exploration;
b. Framework for conclusion of business contracts on fishery
between the two countries' private sectors.
2. That the Thai Government would be ready and willing to provide
technical assistance to Indonesian fishing enterprises.
3. The Thai Agricultural Minister proposed an exchange of visits
between the two ministers to continue discussion on the fishery
issue, in the first month of 2000.
4. The Thai Foreign Minister also invited Minister Sarwono to
lead a delegation of Indonesian businesspeople to Thai maritime
provinces, to be followed by a similar visit by Minister Surin to
Indonesian provinces during the first half of 2000.
Over 50 Thai agribusiness companies have been registered and
are operating in Indonesia. PT Charoen Pok-Phand Indonesia
concentrates on animal feed, chicken and shrimp farms. PT
Indovetraco Makmur Abadi is engaged in import-export of animal
health products. One of Indonesia's conglomerates, PT Djajanti
Group, has enjoyed a long-standing business partnership with Thai
counterparts.
Several Indonesian fishing companies in North Sumatra and
Padang either have contracted or are having discussions with
potential Thai partners. Of particular interest is the upcoming
ministerial meeting of Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth
Triangle (IMT-GT) to be hosted by the Thai Government in March
2000, further promoting business transactions and joint ventures.